This paper presents the application of a recent integrated approach for the design of cellular manufacturing, addressing, concurrently, all three phases of the design-namely parts/machines grouping, intra-cell and inter-cell layout designs-to a white-goods manufacturing company. It provides a platform to investigate the impact of the cell formation method on intra-cell and inter-cell layout designs, and vice versa, by generating multiple efficient layout designs for different cell partitioning strategies. This approach enables the decision-maker to have wider choices with regard to the different numbers of cells and to assess various criteria such as travelling cost, duplication of machines and space require- ment against each alternative.
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