An integrated approach to solve tool-part grouping, job allocation and scheduling problems in a flexible manufacturing system

An integrated approach is discussed in this article to solve the sub-problems like tool-part grouping, job allocation on machines and minimization of make-span in a FMS. Tool and part grouping is performed using “principal component analysis”, and tool allocation has been carried out using priority-based approach by developing a potency index. Thereafter, the concept has evolved based on threshold machining time, minimum operation time, and maximum possible operation time to minimize the make-span of the system. In order to validate the result “analysis of variance” has been employed, and on a simulated example the F ratio is enumerated.