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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. Afentakis R. A. Millen M. M. Solomon (1990) ArticleTitleDynamic layout strategies for flexible manufacturing systems International Journal of Production Research 28 IssueID2 311–323
G. E. Armour E. S. Buffa (1963) ArticleTitleA heuristic algorithm and simulation approach to relative location of facilities Management Science 9 294–309
Y. A. Bozer R. D. Meller S. J. Erlebacher (1994) ArticleTitleAn improvement-type layout algorithm for multiple floor facilities Management Science 40 918–932
A. S. Carrie J. M. Moore M. Roczniak J. J. Seppanen (1978) ArticleTitleGraph theory and symbolic processors for computer aided facilities design Omega 6 353–361
F. Dweiri F. A. Meier (1996) ArticleTitleApplication of Fuzzy decision making in facilities layout planning International Journal of Production Research 34 3207–3225
G. W. Evans M. R. Wilhlem W. Karwowsky (1987) ArticleTitleA layout design heuristic employing the theory of fuzzy sets International Journal of Production Research 25 1431–1450
F. Fortemps M. Roubens (1996) ArticleTitleRanking and defuzzification methods based on area compensation Fuzzy Sets and Systems 82 319–330
J. Grobelny (1987) ArticleTitleOn one possible fuzzy approach to facilities layout problems International Journal of Production Research 25 IssueID8 1123–1141
M. M. D. Hassan G. L. Hogg (1987) ArticleTitleA review of Graph Theory applications to the facility layout problem Omega 15 IssueID4 291–300
G. Klir (1995) Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Logic Theory and Applications Prentice Hall New Jersey
G. Klir (1997) ArticleTitleFuzzy arithmetic with requisite constraints Fuzzy Sets and Systems 91 165–175
G. J. Klir M. J. Wierman (1999) Uncertainty-Based Information Physica-Verlag New York
J. S. Kochhar B. T. Foster S. S. Heragu (1998) ArticleTitleHope: a genetic algorithm for the unequal area facility layout problem Computers Operations Research 25 IssueID7/8 583–594
P. Kouvelis A. A. Kurawarwala G. J. Gutiérrez (1992) ArticleTitleAlgorithms for robust single and multiple period layout planning for manufacturing systems European Journal of Operational Research 63 287–303
R. D. Meller Kai-Yin. Gau (1996) ArticleTitleThe Facility Layout Problem: Recent and Emerging Trends and Perspectives Journal of Manufacturing Systems 15 IssueID5 351–366
R. D. Meller Y. A. Bozer (1996) ArticleTitleA new simulated annealing algorithm for the facility layout problem International Journal of Production Research 34 IssueID6 1675–1692
Montreuil, B. (1990) A modelling framework for integrating layout design and flow network design. Proceedings of the Material Handling Research Colloquium (pp. 43–58). Hebron, KY
M. J. Rosenblatt (1986) ArticleTitleThe dynamics of plant layout Management Science 32 IssueID1 76–86
M. J. Rosenblatt H. L. Lee (1987) ArticleTitleA robustness approach to facilities design International Journal of Production Research 25 IssueID4 479–486
M. Roubens (1990) Inequality constraints between fuzzy numbers and their use in mathematical programming R. Slowinsky J. Teghem (Eds) Stochastic Versus Fuzzy Approaches to Multiobjective, Mathematical Programming under uncertainty Kluwer Dordrecht 321–330
R. H. Shore J. A. Thompkins (1980) ArticleTitleFlexible facilities design I.I.E. Transactions 12 IssueID2 200–205
G. Suresh V. V. Vinod S. Sahu (1995) ArticleTitleA genetic algorithm for facility layout International Journal of Production Research 33 IssueID12 3411–3423
D. M. Tate A. E. Smith (1995) ArticleTitleUnequal-area facility layout by genetic search IIE Transactions 27 465–472
L. Tian-Shy J. W. Mao-Jiun (1992) ArticleTitleRanking fuzzy numbers with integral value Fuzzy Sets and Systems 50 247–255
L. U. Timothy (1993) ArticleTitleA heuristic for the dynamic facility layout problem IIE Transactions 25 IssueID4 57–63
L. A. Zadeh (1978) ArticleTitleFuzzy sets as a bases for a theory of possibility Fuzzy Sets and Systems 1 23–28
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Enea, M., Galante, G. & Panascia, E. The facility layout problem approached using a fuzzy model and a genetic search. J Intell Manuf 16, 303–316 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-005-7025-4
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-005-7025-4