Computational system for group technology – PFA case study

Abstract

A computational implementation of the production flow analysis, a software named GROUPTEC, for a small company has been proposed. Using GROUPTEC, a case study has been devised and applied to a company, belonging to aluminium‐manufactured products branch. Four analyses of the production flow have been performed, that is, the factory flow analysis; group analysis; line analysis, and tool analysis. After the above technique application, the final results related to the technological cells and their components; part families and machinery groups lead to an adequate cell arrangement, with a grouping efficiency of approximately 98.8 per cent. A productivity gain of 30 per cent has been estimated with the time in movement of parts and queuing at the machine.