Optimization of shipyard layout with material handling cost as the main parameter using genetic algorithm

Abstract

The world trade path is mostly using sea transportation, which triggers an increase in the demand for ships ready for sailing. This situation demands the shipyard to be able to work optimally in building ships. However, there are problems encountered in the vessel manufacturing process in the field. The problem is the high material handling cost because most of the shipyard layout is designed based on experts experience and knowledge. The utilization of technology is already supposed to minimize material handling costs and produce optimal shipyard layout. The study aims to demonstrate a new method of determining shipbuilding design with the help of programming algorithms. This method of study uses software simulations and numerical analysis. Simulated software is done using Python 3.7 and Microsoft Excel 2019 as the input data. The study is also consist of Numerical analysis by genetic algorithm to create constraints and defined material handling cost in this research programming. Constraints used are the distance between buildings and the quantity of material flow. The material handling cost is defining as the result of multiplying the distance and the quantity of material flow. The decrease in a material handling cost is analyzed through the distance between departments in the shipyard and quantity of material displacement between departments. The genetic algorithm resulted in a reduction of material handling by 23.1%.