Dependency of Capability-Based Virtual Cellular Manufacturing Systems performance on basic layouts

The performance of a Virtual Cellular Manufacturing System (VCMS), capability-based or machine-based, is affected by different layout strategies. This research presents how choosing a suitable layout can improve the performance of Capability Based VCMSs (CBVCMSs), especially to minimize the traveling distances between machines required by each family group. To present the efficacy of basic layouts on performances of VCMSs, a multi-objective mathematical model with a Goal Programming (GP) approach is developed to generate CBVCMSs and implemented over functional and distributed layouts of the same machines. After that, the objective function of the mathematical model is measured to compare the performance of the generated system over the both layouts. Moreover, because of the material handling costs importance, traveled distances by components are evaluated to find the best option as a basic layout for VCMSs. The result illustrates the priority of distributed layouts for generating CBVCMSs because of its flexibility, minimizing the objective function for the mathematical model, and smaller minimum traveled distances by the components