This paper solves different machine-part group formation (MPGF) problems using genetic algorithms to demonstrate that it can be a new robust alternative to the conventional heuristic approaches for optimization problems. We first give an overview of genetic algorithms: Its principle, various considerations required for its implementation, and the method for setting up parameter values are explained. Then, we describe the MPGF problem which are critical to the successful operation of cellular manufacturing or flexible manufacturing systems. We concentrate on three models of the MPGF problems whose forms of the objective function and/or constraints are quite different from each other. Finally, numerical examples of each of the models descibed above are solved by using genetic algorithms. The result shows that the solutions derived by genetic algorithms are comparable to those obtained through problem-specific heuristic methods.