Approach For Facility Layout Problem Research Articles

Integrating big data analytic and hybrid firefly-chaotic simulated annealing approach for facility layout problem

Manufacturing industries have become larger, diverse and the factors affecting a facility layout design have grown rapidly. Handling and evaluating these large set of criteria (factors) is difficult in designing and solving facility layout problems. These factors and uncertainties have a large impact on manufacturing time, manufacturing cost, product quality and delivery performance. In order to operate efficiently, these facilities should adapt to these variations over multiple time periods and this must be addressed while designing an optimal layout. This paper proposes a novel integrated framework by combining Big Data Analtics and Hybrid meta-heuristic approach to design an optimal facility layout under stochastic demand over multiple periods. Firstly, factors affecting a facility layout design are identified. The survey is conducted to generate data reflecting 3V’s of Big Data. Secondly, a reduced set of factors are obtained using Big Data Analytics. These reduced set of factors are considered to mathematically model a weighted aggregate objective for Multi-objective Stochastic Dynamic Facility Layout Problem (MO-SDFLP). Hybrid Meta-heuristic based on Firefly (FA) and Chaotic simulated annealing is used to solve the MO-SDFLP. To show the working methodology of proposed integrated framework an exemplary case is presented.

A new linear adjacency approach for facility layout problem with unequal area departments

In this study a new version of adjacency, which provides a more flexible layout design, is proposed. In the proposed version, departments which are nonadjacent yet close to each other are considered to be adjacent with a smaller adjacency rating. It is shown that the proposed adjacency is a generalized version of the traditional adjacency. A mathematical programming model is developed for the proposed facility layout problem. To show the flexibility and efficacy of the proposed model, a computational study is conducted. The solution of an illustrative example as well as the solutions of several test problems, reveal flexibility and efficacy of the proposed model.

A fuzzy DEMATEL-based solution approach for facility layout problem: a case study

Facility layout in production systems is a difficult activity since both qualitative and quantitative factors affect the location decision, and also influence and causal relationship between these factors should be determined for a better location. In this respect, it is demonstrated in this study that fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) method can effectively be used in handling facility layout problems in practice. The qualitative factors that described by linguistic terms can be taken into account through fuzzy structure of the method. Considering this, a fuzzy DEMATEL-based solution approach for facility layout problem is proposed in this study. The proposed approach takes into account both qualitative and quantitative location factors. To address the need in practice, six important location factors are considered in this study. These are material flow, information flow, personnel flow, equipment flow, environmental condition, and supervision of personnel. This study differs from the previous works in that it applies fuzzy DEMATEL method to facility layout problem. To explore the viability of the proposed approach, a real world problem in a machinery industry firm is handled.