Genetic algorithm and large neighbourhood search to solve the cell formation problem

► The local search algorithm includes procedures to intensify and diversify the search. ► The hybrid method (HM) combines a genetic algorithm with the local search. ► The local search generates very good solutions for the 35 benchmark problems. ► The hybrid method (HM) generates even better solutions for the 35 benchmark problems. ► HM reaches the best-known solution of 31 problems and improve that of 3 others.