The facility layout problem is typically solved in what is referred to as a “top-down approach” of block layout design followed by detailed layout determination. However, a number of research efforts recently have challenged this approach, producing a “bottom-up approach to the facility layout problem” (Meller et al. 2004). In this paper we consider the bottom-up approach, applying a tighter fo...

In this paper, an unequal area Cyclic Facility Layout Problem (CFLP) is studied. Dynamic and seasonal nature of the product demands results in the necessity for considering the CFLP where product demands as well as the departmental area requirements are changing from one period to the next one. Since the CFLP is NP-hard, we propose a Simulated Annealing (SA) metaheuristic with a dynamic tempera...

When workflow congestion is prevalent, minimizing total expected material handling time is more appropriate than minimizing a distanced-based objective in manufacturing facility layout design. We present a model labeled Full Assignment Problem with Congestion (FAPC), which simultaneously optimizes the layout and flow routing. FAPC is a generalization of the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP), a...

In the desgin-process of a facility layout, the focus has been mainly on the placement of the machine resources. The material-ow, and therefore the desgin of the aisles has not appropriately been taken into account. We developed a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) to generate the aisles in a facility layout at minimal xed and variable cost. The application of the GA to a practical problem leads to ...

We present a new framework for efficiently finding competitive solutions for the facility layout problem. This framework is based on the combination of two new mathematical programming models. The first model is a relaxation of the layout problem and is intended to find good starting points for the iterative algorithm used to solve the second model. The second model is an exact formulation of t...

The inter-cell layout problem is discussed and a mathematical formulation for material flow between the cells is presented. The problem is modeled as a quadratic assignment problem (QAP). An ant algorithm is developed to solve the formulated problem. The performance of the proposed ant algorithm is compared to the facility layout algorithms such as H63, HC63-66, CRAFT and Bubble Search as well ...

Ž . In this paper a solution in the continual plane to the Facility Layout Problem FLP is presented. It is based on Simulated Ž . Annealing SA , a relatively recent algorithm for solving hard combinatorial optimization problems, like FLP. This approach Ž . may be applied either in General Facility Layout Problems GFLP considering facilities areas, shapes and orientations or in Ž . Machine Layou...