Cell formation with operation times of jobs for even distribution of workloads

Unlike the traditional cell formation problem with machine-part incidence matrix, this paper deals with the formation of cells for jobs with operation times on different machines. The cell formation procedure in this paper consists of two distinct phases. The first phase analyses the relationship between the number of cells and the maximum number of operations that can be performed without duplicating the machines and develops a closed form expression for the optimal number of cells that minimizes the total associated cost. The second phase proposes a methodology for clustering the machines and the parts into a prespecified optimal number of cells given an upper limit on the total processing time of the jobs in a cell. Finally an attempt has been made to balance the system with an objective of reducing the degree of workload deviation in the cells.