 Group technology

 Part families
 Parts classification coding scheme
 Production flow analysis
 Cellular manufacturing
 Machine cell layout
 Group technology is a manufacturing
philosophy in which similar parts are
identified and grouped together to take
advantage of their similarities in design and
production.

 Similar
parts are arranged into part families,
where each part family possesses similar
design and manufacturing characteristics.
 Reducing manufacturing lead times

 Reducing the waiting time in process

 Improve scheduling as they are grouped

 Reduce setup time

 Ways to Identify Part Families
 The visual inspection method is the least
sophisticated and least expensive method.
- It involves the classification of parts into
families by looking at either the physical
parts or their photographs and
-arranging them into groups having similar
features.
 2.Production flow analysis - using
information contained on route sheets to
classify parts

 3.Partsclassification and coding -

identifying similarities and differences
among parts and relating them by means of a
coding scheme
.
 This is the most time consuming of the three
methods. In parts classification and coding,
similarities among parts are identified, and
these similarities are related in a coding
system.

 Example: 12345 6789 ABCD

 12345-DesignAttributes
 6789-Manufacturing attributes
 ABCD-Production operation and sequence
Parts Classification and Coding
 Most classification and coding systems are one of the following:
 Systems based on part design attributes
 Systems based on part manufacturing attributes
 Systems based on both design and manufacturing attributes
 Part Design Attributes
 Major dimensions
 Basic external shape
 Basic internal shape
 Length/diameter ratio
 Material type
 Part function
 Tolerances
 Surface finish

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Parts Classification and Coding
 Part Manufacturing Attributes
 Major process
 Operation sequence
 Batch size
 Annual production
 Machine tools
 Cutting tools
 Material type

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 Design retrieval system
 Automated process planning
 Machine cell design

 Design retrieval
 A designer faced with the task of developing a
new part can use a design retrieval system to
determine if a similar part already exists. A
simple change in an existing part would take
much less time than designing a whole new
part from beginning.
 Automated process planning
-Automated process planning The part code for a new part
can be used to search for process plans for existing parts with
identical or similar codes

 Machine cell design

 The part codes can be used to design machine cells
capable of producing all members of a particular part
family, using the composite part concept
Group Technology
 The OPITZ classification system:
 It is a mixed (hybrid) coding system
 Developed by Opitz, Technical University of Aachen,
1970
 It is widely used in industry
 It provides a basic framework for understanding the
classification and coding process
 It can be applied to machined parts, non-machined
parts (both formed and cast) and purchased parts
 It considers both design and manufacturing
information
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 Group Technology
 The Opitz coding system consists of three groups of digits:

Form Supplementary Secondary

code code code
12345 6789 ABCD

part geometry information Production

and features relevant to processes and
relevant to part manufacturing production
design sequences

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18
Opitz System

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 PFAis an approach to identify the part
family and associated with machine cell
based on process route sheet.

 PFA is consists of four stages

 Data collection
 Sortation of process routings
 PFA Chart
 Cluster analysis
 Data collection
- the minimum data is needed in the analysis
of part number and operation sequence
which is contained in shop documents called
route sheets.
-so determining the operation sequence and
machine sequence.
 Sortation of process routings.
In this step the parts are arranged into
groups according to the similarity of their
process routings.
 PFA CHART
Consider a problem of 4 machines and 6 parts. Try to
group them.

Components
Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6
s
M1 1 1 1
M2 1 1 1
M3 1 1 1
M4 1 1 1

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 Components(CLUSTER
ANALYSIS)
Machine 2 4 6 1 3 5
s
M1 1 1 1

M2 1 1 1

M3 1 1 1

M4 1 1 1

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PFA Chart

 PFA Chart