Automatic generation of group technology families during the part classification process

Initial part family formation and subsequent part classification are two important problems to be addressed in applying the group technology principle. Although these two problems are closely related, they have been treated separately. As an aggregate problem, the automatic creation of new part families during the classification process, is investigated. A two-layer neural network using the adaptive resonance theory is adopted. The capability of this neural network model of dealing with the stability-plasticity dilemma is utilised in classifying the parts into families and creating new families if necessary. A heuristic algorithm using the neural network is described, with illustrative examples.