Abstract:

Interchangeability is the distinguishing feature of modern manufacturing. A huge production capacity to satisfy the people is reached thanks to that concept. Yet that prospect brought up a dilemma too. Efficient but inflexible flow lines for very limited product types on one side and unproductive flexible batch production for numerous diverse parts on the other side. The remedy is thought of as Cellular Manufacturing (CM). That seemed a brilliant idea but the proliferation of CM has never reached to the expected levels. This paper discusses the probable causes of this discontent by referring both academic and practical issues and tries to give some clues to improve the achievements of further CM applications by emphasizing of the contemporary tools like computer techniques, especially emerging approaches of artificial intelligence as well as organizational and social issues.

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