CELL FORMATION IN GROUP

TECHNOLOGY
There are numerous methods available for machine
grouping in Group Technology (GT)
Here we will discuss the simple method called as
Tabular Method.
The method start with 0-1 table called the machine
component matrix or incident matrix
This table show the machine that each component (e.g.,
part or job) needs in production; 1 indicating the use of
machine & 0 (or a blank) indicating the nonuse of the
machine
The objective is to develop m/c cells that each
component can (as for as possible) be fully processed in
a single cell
1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

CELL FORMATION IN GROUP

TECHNOLOGY
TABULAR METHOD SOLUTION
PROCEDURE:
Procedure falls in two phases:
In 1st Phase: the machine is assigned
to a group based on its affinity to all
the machines that are presently in
the group
In 2nd Phase: this phase distributes
the jobs in the cells generated in the
first phase
1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION
PHASE 1: This phase of tabular method follows
the steps given here
Step 1. Develop a machine-to-machine relationship
table. A machine-to-machine relationship table 5.2
indicates the number of jobs that are processed on
both machines
Step 2. Select the initial value of Relationship
Counter (RC) , RC defines the value of relationship
being used in the present calculation these values are
taken from table 5.2. Pick the largest element in table
5.2 & designate it as the present value of RC. The RC
will change as we go through the iterative process
1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION (Cont..)
Step 3. Define a value of minimum
%age . A measure of effectiveness of
joining a machine to a group, such
as 50% (P=0.5), is defined by
analyzer at the beginning of the
problem. It states the closeness an
entering machine must have with all
the existing machines within a group
in order for entering machine to join
that group.
1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION (Cont..)
Step 4. Starting with the first row in table 5.2, examine
each row for an elemental value that equals RC. Note
the machines in corresponding row and column
Step 5. If the associated machines in the row &
column are not already in a group, then form a group
consisting of these two machines & go to step 7. If
both m/cs are already assigned to same group ignore
the observation & go to step 7. If one of the machines
in the pair is in a group & the other one has not been
assigned yet (this machine is called the Entering
Machine), go to step 6a. If both machines are
assigned, but to different groups, go to step 6b
1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION (Cont..)
Step 6a. Calculate the closeness ratio of the entering machine
with each group that have already been formed. Closeness Ratio
(CR) is defined as the ratio of the total of all relationships
the entering machine has with the machines that are
currently in a group to the total number of machines
that are presently assigned to that group
Entering machine is placed in a group that has the maximum
closeness ratio (MCR), as long as this maximum is greater than
or equal to the minimum threshold value (MTV), i.e MTV =Px RC.
If the value of value of MCR is less than MTV, then a new group
is formed consisting of two machines noted in step 4. which
have relationship value that equals the present value of RC. Go
to step 7

1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION (Cont..)
Step 6b. Duplication of one or more
machine is suggested . There are two
possible alternatives & they are
checked subsequently b/c of cost
considerations. First alternative is to
add one additional machine of either
type & place it in appropriate cell;
the 2nd alternative is to add two
additional m/cs, one of each type, &
form a new group or place the
1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION (Cont..)
Step 7: Continue the check of machine-to-machine table
with the present value of RC proceeding sequentially in
rows. If an element is found that is equal to present
value of RC, go to step 5. If no such element is found,
go to step 8.
Step 8: Check to see if all the positive values of RC
greater than 0 are checked. If they are, go to step 9;
other wise, reduce the value of RC to the next value in
its descending order of magnitude & return to step 5.
An other termination rule is to stop when all the
machines are assigned to at least one group. This
stopping rule keeps machine duplications to a minimum

1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18

TABULAR METHOD OF CELL

FORMATION (Cont..)
Step 9. This step involve group
consolidation. Compare the groups
formulated so far. If one group-say,
G1-contains machine such that it is a
subset of another group, then
eliminate G1 from any further
considerations.

1/01/2013

lec # 17 & 18