Kazuhiko Yasuda

A grouping genetic algorithm for the multi-objective cell formation problem

In this research, we propose an efficient method to solve the multi-objective cell formation problem (CFP) partially adopting Falkenauers grouping genetic algorithm (GGA). The objectives are the minimization of both the cell load variation and intercell flows considering the machines’ capacities, part volumes and part processing times on the machines. We relax the cell size constraints and solve the CFP without predetermination of the number of cells, which is usually difficult to predict in a real-world CFP design. We also make some effort to improve the efficiency of our algorithm with respect to initialization of the population, fitness valuation, and keeping crossover operator from cloning. Numerical examples are tested and comparisons are made with general genetic algorithms (GAs). The result shows that our method is effective and flexible in both grouping machines into cells and deciding on the number of cells for the optimal solution.

Similarity coefficient methods applied to the cell formation problem: a comparative investigation

Although many similarity coefficients have been proposed, very few comparative studies have been done to evaluate the performance of various similarity coefficients. In this paper, we compare the performance of 20 well-known similarity coefficients. Two hundred and fourteen numerical cell formation problems, which are selected from the literature or generated deliberately, are used for the comparative study. Nine performance measures are used for evaluating the goodness of cell formation solutions. Two characteristics, discriminability and stability of the similarity coefficients are tested under different data conditions. From the results, three similarity coefficients are found to be more discriminable. Jaccard is found to be the most stable similarity coefficient. Four similarity coefficients are not recommendable due to their poor performances.

Manufacturing cells' design in consideration of various production factors

A cell formation problem is introduced that incorporates various real-life production factors such as the alternative process routing, operation sequence, operation time, production volume of parts, machine capacity, machine investment cost, machine overload, multiple machines available for machine types and part process routing redesigning cost. None of the cell formation models in the literature has considered these factors simultaneously. A similarity coefficient is developed that incorporates alternative process routing, operation sequence, operation time and production volume factors. Although very few studies have considered the machine capacity violated issue under the alternative process routing environment, owing to the difficulties of the issue discussed here, these studies fail to deal with the issue because they depend on some unrealistic assumptions. Five solutions have been proposed here and are used to cope with this difficulty. A heuristic algorithm that consists of two stages is developed. The developed similarity coefficient is used in stage 1 to obtain basic machine cells. Stage 2 solves the machine-capacity violated issue, assigns parts to cells, selects process routing for each part and refines the final cell formation solution. Some numerical examples are used to compare with other related approaches in the literature and two large size problems are also solved to test the computational performance of the developed algorithm. The computational results suggest that the approach is reliable and efficient in either the quality or the speed for solving cell formation problems.

A dissimilarity measure for solving the cell formation problem in cellular manufacturing

Abstract Cell formation (CF) is a vital aspect of the design of cellular manufacturing systems. Many similarity coefficient method (SCM)-based approaches have been proposed to solve the CF problem in the literature. However, some of these approaches have deficiencies and do not always produce proper machine groups and part families from the initial machine–part incidence matrix. This paper considers a new systematic approach that is based upon the calculation of an average voids value (AVV), which indicates the average number of newly produced voids when a pair of machine groups are combined. This approach is very simple, intuitively appealing, and overcomes many disadvantages inherent in some traditional SCM-based approaches. The AVV approach is tested against five well-known approaches in solving CF problems and the test results show that the approach is reliable and efficient.

Minimising material handling cost in cell formation with alternative processing routes by grouping genetic algorithm

The alternative processing route is one of the important design factors for the cell formation problem (CFP) in cellular manufacturing systems (CMSs). Genetic algorithm (GA) is a popular method for solving the CFPs, because GA is capable of searching large regions of the solutions space while being less susceptible to getting trapped in local optima. However, the disadvantage of classical GAs is that the number of manufacturing cells should be known in advance. Knowing the actual number of manufacturing cells is relatively difficult before the CMS design is determined. Grouping genetic algorithm (GGA) is capable of solving CFP without predetermination of the number of cells, which is introduced by Falkenauers GGA (1998). In order to adopt the GGA on CFP with alternative processing routes, we develop a new chromosome representation, a local optimisation algorithm for crossover operator and special mutation operators. These efforts ensure the efficiency of our method and are indicated in the numerical examples, and improved solutions are also obtained in the numerical examples.

Comprehensive review of literature survey articles on ERP

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the current status of enterprise resource planning (ERP) field and address some issues in literature reviews, the authors conduct a comprehensive literature survey of extensive literature reviews of ERP in organizational contexts and map all the existing research issues that have been mentioned. Design/methodology/approach – Two groups of keywords are set to search papers through academic search engine and academic databases. Total 86 literature reviews have been accumulated and categorized into three main categories and five sub-categories. The authors adopt multi-method approach to analyze the survey result. It consists of review type, geographical area, publication type, theory, and process approach. Findings – Literature reviews need more continuity, objectivity, and integrality. More efforts should be made to increase methodologically sound and theoretically grounded research. In ERP research field, the topics in the post-implementation phase are he...

Uncertain association rule mining algorithm for the cell formation problem in cellular manufacturing systems

Although data mining has enjoyed popularity in recent years with advances in both academia and industry, the application of data mining to cellular manufacturing, one of the most powerful management innovations in job-shop or batch-type production, is still under-utilized. Based on association rule mining, Chen initially developed a cell formation approach. One problem of such a cell formation algorithm is that various real-life production factors were ignored. In this paper we propose a new cell formation algorithm by way of uncertain association rule mining. The proposed algorithm incorporates several key production factors, such as operation sequence, production volume, batch size, alternative process routings, cell size, the number of cells, and the path coefficient of material flow. The efficacy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm were tested using several numerical problems.

Product development concept with product sustainability

Traditional customers requirements for the new product development are product quality, cost, and delivery. Also, as the product quality, product performance and functions are most important factors for a long time. The new product must satisfy the customer requirements always. Moreover, several emerging new social and market trend such as ecological problems are also satisfied at the same time in the recent product development environment. This paper defines the concept for solving the societal issue such as environmental problems by marketing focused approach. The introduced approach shows the new type of business model to satisfy customer and community. It is emerging subject of the marketing and business field. The three factors are applied to define the strategies for sustainable product development. The factors are: 1. Product performance and function as product innovation, 2. Product attractiveness such as product concept, style, communication system, and/or after-sales service as service innovation, 3. Product competitiveness as value innovation. In this research, first redefine the sustainable product development concept. It is the business sustainable model to satisfy the customer and community issue. The paper defines the several practical methods of sustainable product development by using the three factors.

Notice of Retraction A study on strategic concept of technology management—Perspectives from product management

In the current technology product market, under the condition of fast current market trend movements, many organizations must define the more effective product development concept and strategy to adapt the needs of current market. In this paper, the conceptual management model of strategic product development is introduced. The conceptual model shows strategic approaches for current technology product market. The introduced approach is developed by focusing on the current market customer expectations for the fast changing technology products. The several factors are applied to define the strategies for current technology product market. The factors are: Cost related factor, Product innovation factor, and Product competitive factor. In the research marketing approaches are selected for developing the strategic model. The application of the model is effective for developing the practical product development management methods.

A study on market oriented product innovation strategies for technology product market

For the traditional product market, customers requirements for the new product are product quality, cost, and delivery. However, several emerging market trend such as competitive technology product market requires different product development management. This paper defines the concept for strategic approach for the high technology product market. The suggested management method defines the different approach to satisfy the customers in the target market. The introduced approach effectively manages the three types of innovation concepts. The innovation factors are applied to define the strategies for approaching high technology product market. The paper defines the several practical management methods for the current high technology market by using the three innovation factors.