The CLASS (Computerized LAyout Solutions using Simulated annealing) deals with the inter-cell and intra-cell layout problems in a cellular manufacturing environment. It focuses on the relative placement of manufacturing cells to minimize the total material flow (cost). The method is based on simulated annealing, which has been successfully applied for solving facility layout problems. This algorithm has a character of the independence of the final solution to the initial solution. There are 2 comparisons were made with applying 2-Opt algorithm to the CLASS when finding initial variables and used 2-Opt algorithm again after finding a solution by using 2-Opt algorithm to the CLASS to accommodate to improve the output.

This paper proposes a hierarchical approach to the machine loading problem when the workload and tool magazine capacity of each machine are restrained. This heuristic approach reduces the maximum workload of the machines by partially grouping them. This research deals with situations where different groups of machines performing the same operation require different processing times. This work proposes a solution that is comprised of two phases. In first phase, demand is divided into batches and then operations are allocated. In Phase II, the processing time of the operation is different for each machine group, which is composed of the same identical machines; however, these machines can perform different sets of operations if tooled differently. In partial grouping, each machine is tooled differently, but they can assist one another in processing each individual operation.