Abstract
Duplication in the machine cells formation process is the assignment of one machine type to more than one cell. It is done to reduce the number of intercellular moves. While the existing machine cells formation models employ the duplication process to reduce the machine cells interdependence, none of tem considers its economic consequences. This paper presents a cost-based duplication procedure which uses the duplication cost and the associated reduction in intercellular material handling cost as a basis for decision making in the duplication process.