The facility layout problem approached using a fuzzy model and a genetic search

Abstract

The problem of facility layout design is discussed, taking into account the uncertainty of production scenarios and the finite production capacity of the departments. The uncertain production demand is modelled by a fuzzy number, and constrained arithmetic operators are used in order to calculate the fuzzy material handling costs. By using a ranking criterion, the layout that represents the minimum fuzzy cost is selected. A flexible bay structure is adopted as a physical model of the system while an effective genetic algorithm is implemented to search for a near optimal solution in a fuzzy contest. Constraints on the aspect ratio of the departments are taken into account using a penalty function introduced into the fitness function of the genetic algorithm. The efficiency of the genetic algorithm proposed is tested in a deterministic context and the possibility of applying the fuzzy approach to a medium-large layout problem is explored

Optimisation of Machine Layout Using a Force Generated Graph Algorithm and Simulated Annealing

“…Further reading on floor layout optimisation includes [9][10][11]. Krishan et al [9] describe a novel facility layout design model aimed at material handling cost minimisation.…”

“…Krishan et al [9] describe a novel facility layout design model aimed at material handling cost minimisation. Solutions based on genetic algorithms (GA) can be used to respond to the changes in product design, product mix and order volume in a dynamically evolving manufacturing system [10] [11].…”

Integrated Make-or-Buy and Facility Layout Problem with Multiple Products

“…A fuzzy representation of a variable material flow (e.g. Grobelny, 1987;Dweiri and Meier, 1996;Enea et al, 2005) and a scenario-based robustness analysis (Rosenblatt and Lee, 1987) are examples of including a restricted knowledge about the material flow intensity into the facility layout planning. Still, the decision maker cannot influence the actual realization of the flow intensity in these problem settings.…”

A note on A mixed integer programming formulation for multi floor layout [African Journal of Business Management 3 (2009) 616-620]

“…Layout problems are known to be complex and are generally NP-Hard (Enea et al, 2005). Classical approaches to layout designing problems tend to maximize the efficiency of layouts measured by the handling cost related to the interdepartmental flow and the distance among the departments.…”

“…In the baystructured facility layout problems, a pre-specified rectangular floor space is first partitioned horizontally or vertically into bays and then each bay is divided into blocks with equal width but different lengths. Some typical works in bay layout are Aiello et al (2006), Arapoglu et al (2001), Castillo and Peters (2004), Chae and Peters (2006), Chen et al (2002), Eklund et al (2006), Enea et al (2005), Garey and Johnson (1979), , Kulturel-Konak et al (2004), Meller (1997), Peters and Yang (1997) and Tate and Smith (1995).…”