Multiple duplicate machines of each type are available.
The main contributions of this paper to the literature on DVCMS are as follows: 1. Considering duplicate machines; 2.
The advantages of the proposed model are as follows: considering multi-period production planning, dynamic system reconfiguration, duplicate machines, machine capacity, available time of workers, and worker assignment.
A new comprehensive similarity coefficient that incorporates multiple process routings in addition to operations sequence, production volumes, duplicate machines, and machines capacity is developed.
Such a CMS model has not been proposed before and it features the presence of alternate process routings, operation sequence, duplicate machines, machine capacity and lot splitting.
In addition, more than one machine of each type may be available for part processing; i.e., duplicate machines are also considered.
This comprehensive model includes dynamic system reconfiguration, multi period production planning, operation sequence, alternative process plans for part types, machine and worker flexibility, duplicate machines, machine capacity, available time of workers and worker assignment.
This model features the simultaneous incorporation of some specific design attributes of CMSs, such as unequal machine dimensions, duplicate machines, alternative process routings, coexistence of alternative process routings, lot splitting, and production planning.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that considering the manufacturing attributes (e.g., alternative process routing, purchasing machine, duplicate machines, machine depot, lot splitting, flexible cell configuration, and varying number of formed cells) brings the flexibility for the presented model to respond to any change in the part demand and product mix.
The presented model has combined a large design features introduced in the previous studies, such as alternative process routings, operation sequence, processing time, production volume of parts, purchasing machine, duplicate machines, machine capacity, lot splitting, group layout, multi-rows layout of equal area facilities, and flexible reconfiguration.
