Analysis of the Use of Similarity Coefficients in Manufacturing Cell Formation Processes

This study investigated the application of similarity coefficients in cellular layout and group technology in industrial organizations, focusing on multicellular manufacturing. Cell formation methods and techniques were explored, ranging from similarity of operations to production volume, in addition to the main elements of group technology. Cellular layout and group technology offer tangible benefits to industrial processes, such as increased operational efficiency, reduced production costs, and improved quality of final products. The choice and implementation of techniques based on similarity take into account factors such as product variety, production volume, process complexity, and market demand. One of the techniques is the use of similarity coefficients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of similarity coefficients in the cell formation process. The technical contribution of this study is that now practitioners have a detailed guide to applying similarity coefficients and verifying the results of the cell formation process in manufacturing activities. A bibliometric search using convenient keywords in the Google Scholar search engine identified the incidences of twenty types of similarity coefficients. The most cited coefficient, the Jaccard coefficient, was tested in standard and non-standard application cases, and the results were compared to support a conclusion. Further research should involve quantitative techniques such as multicriteria evaluation and fuzzy logic in the cell formation process.