Group technology is a manufacturing technique and philosophy to increase production efficiency by exploiting the “underlying sameness” of component shape, dimensions, process route, etc.

Group Technology is the realization that many problems are similar, and that by grouping similar problems, a single solution can be found to a set of problems thus saving time and effort.

OPITZ codes can have 3 sections

1. 1st five-digit "geometric form code"
2. Followed by a four digit "supplementary code"
3. This may be followed by a company-specific four-digit "secondary code" intended for describing production operations and sequencing.