International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering ISSN: 2229-8649 (Print); ISSN: 2180-1606 (Online); Volume 14, Issue 4 pp. 4826-4845 December 2017 ©Universiti Malaysia Pahang Publishing DOI: https://doi.org/10.15282/ijame.14.4.2017.16.0377 4826 Configuring robot work cell based on a multi-shaped layout approach N. S. Osman 1 , M. A. A. Rahman 1* , A. A. Abdul Rahman 1 , S. H. Kamsani 1 , E. Mohamad 1 , B. M. B. Mohamad 1 , Z. A. Zaini 2 and M. F. A. Rahman 2 1 Integrated Manufacturing Systems (I’Ms) Research Group, Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Melaka, Malaysia Email: * arfauz@utem.edu.my Phone: +606-3316488 2 Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Aras 2, 3 & 4, Blok D3, Kompleks D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62530 W. P. Putrajaya, Malaysia ABSTRACT This paper describes developmental work on a multi-shaped layout approach for configuring robot work cells in the future. The idea is to configure robot work cells based on the total number of robots and its variations of layouts. At present, the multi-shaped layout of robot work cells is developed by joining two or more robot work cells in the form of a square-shaped layout based on several constraints and conditions. Data on the probable multi-shaped layouts of robot work cells have been tabulated, and the complexity of data for each configuration was compared. Afterward, the configuration with the least complexity was selected to be the optimum configuration concept. As a result, a configuration pattern with a mathematical relation between the number of robots and the number of possible multi-shaped layouts was able to be extracted using MATLAB. The details regarding the development phases of this work are presented. The primary purpose of this work is to provide a configuration concept of robot work cells for assisting system design engineers in configuring robot work cells which could enhance configuration time, minimise human and expert involvement, and capitalise available investment resources in future. This developmental outcome is relevant for inline configurations of robot work cells. The currentoutcomes of this work provide a basic concept for future investigation on developing a flexible configuration system for multiple robot work cells. Keywords: Industrial robot; multi shape; configuration; reconfigurable and flexible manufacturing system. INTRODUCTION Globalisation has created a new environment where all manufacturing competitors around the world have similar opportunities [1-4]. Consequently, competition happens even though competitors that produce similar products are located in different parts of the world [5]. Particular attention on the productivity and quality of products are given in order to satisfy customer demands [6, 7]. As the result, there is the need for automated manufacturing as a resolution to this type of environment. Due to the fast development of manufacturing automation, the demand for industrial robots is growing annually [8]. In