A hands–on guide to implementing multi–cell manufacturing systems on a large scale.

Cellular manufacturing (CM) is the grouping of similar products for manufacture in discrete multi–machine cells. It has been proven to yield faster production cycles, lower in–process inventory levels, and enhanced product quality.

Pioneered on a large scale by Russian, British, and German manufacturers, interest in CM methods has grown steadily over the past decade. However, there continues to be a dearth of practical guides for industrial engineers and production managers interested in implementing CM techniques in their plants. Bringing together contributions by an international team of CM experts, the Handbook of Cellular Manufacturing Systems bridges this gap in the engineering literature. With the help of numerous in–depth case studies drawn from a wide range of industries, the Handbook covers:
∗ History and basic principles of cellular manufacturing.
∗ Methods for cell formation, layout, and scheduling of large manufacturing systems.
∗ Setup time reduction techniques.
∗ Quality control in CM.
∗ Benchmarking and performance evaluation of cells.
∗ Financial costs and benefits of CM versus traditional approaches.
∗ Human resources and team development issues in CM.
∗ Computer–aided methods and tools for planning, designing, implementing, and managing cells in manufacturing plants.

The Handbook of Cellular Manufacturing Systems is an indispensable resource for industrial engineers and production managers interested in implementing this exciting new alternative to conventional manufacturing system configurations.