Skip to main content
Log in

Intelligent design of a dynamic machine layout in uncertain environment of flexible manufacturing systems

  • Published:
Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since Facility Layout Problem (FLP) affects the total manufacturing cost significantly, it can be considered as a critical issue in the early stages of designing Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs), particularly in volatile environments where uncertainty in product demands is inevitable. This paper proposes a new mathematical model by using the Quadratic Assignment Problem formulation for designing an optimal machine layout for each period of a dynamic machine layout problem in FMSs. The product demands are considered as independent normally distributed random variables with known Probability Density Function (PDF), which changes from period to period at random. In this model, the decision maker’s defined confidence level is also considered. The confidence level represents the decision maker’s attitude about uncertainty in product demands in such a way that it affects the results of the problem significantly. To validate the proposed model, two different size test problems are generated at random. Since the FLP, especially in multi-period case is a hard Combinatorial Optimization Problem (COP), Simulated Annealing (SA) meta-heuristic resolution approach programmed in Matlab is used to solve the mathematical model in a reasonable computational time. Finally, the computational results are evaluated statistically.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afentakis P., Millen R., Solomon M. (1990) Dynamic layout strategies for flexible manufacturing systems. International Journal of Production Research 28: 311–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarenga A. G., Gomes N. J., Mestria M. (2000) Metaheuristic methods for a class of the facility layout problems. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 11: 421–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balakrishnan J., Jacobs F. R., Venkataramanan M. A. (1992) Solutions for the constrained dynamic facility layout problem. European Journal of Operational Research 57: 280–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benjaafar S., Heragu S. S., Irani S. A. (2002) Next generation factory layouts: Research challenges and recent progress. Interfaces 32(6): 58–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braglia M., Zanoni S., Zavanella L. (2005) Robust versus stable layout design in stochastic environments. Production Planning & Control 16(1): 71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drolet, J. R. (1989). Scheduling virtual cellular manufacturing systems. Ph.D Thesis, School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

  • Enea M., Galante G., Panascia E. (2005) The facility layout problem approached using a fuzzy model and a genetic search. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 16: 303–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foulds L. R. (1983) Techniques for facilities layout: Deciding which pairs of activities should be adjacent. Management Science 29(12): 1414–1426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R. M. (1986) Flexibility in layouts: A simulation approach. Material Flow 3: 243–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Irani S. A., Cavalier T. M., Cohen P. H. (1993) Virtual manufacturing cells: Exploiting layout design and intercell flows for the machine sharing problem. International Journal of Production Research 31(4): 791–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kochhar J. S., Heragu S. S. (1999) Facility layout design in a changing environment. International Journal of Production Research 37(11): 2429–2446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koopmans T. C., Beckman M. (1957) Assignment problems and the location of economic activities. Econometric 25: 53–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouvelis P., Kiran A. S. (1991) Single and multiple period layout models for automated manufacturing systems. European Journal of Operational Research 52: 300–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan K. K., Cheraghi S. H., Chandan N. N. (2008) Facility layout design for multiple production scenarios in a dynamic environment. International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering 3(2): 105–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulturel-Konak S. (2007) Approaches to uncertainties in facility layout problems: Perspectives at the beginning of the 21st century. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 18: 273–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean, C. R., Bloom, H. M., & Hopp, T. H. (1982). The virtual manufacturing cell. In: Proceedings of the 4th IFAC/IFIP Conference on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (pp. 1–9).

  • Montreuil B., Laforge A. (1992) Dynamic layout design given a scenario tree of probable futures. European Journal of Operational Research 63: 271–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montreuil B., Venkatadri U., Rardin R. L. (1999) Fractal layout organization for job shop environments. International Journal of Production Research 37(3): 501–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palekar U. S., Batta R., Bosch R. M., Elhence S. (1992) Modeling uncertainties in plant layout problems. European Journal of Operational Research 63: 347–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblatt M. J., Kropp D. H. (1992) The single period stochastic plant layout problem. IIE Transactions 24(2): 169–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahni S., Gonzalez T. (1976) P-complete approximation problem. Journal of ACM 23(3): 555–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tavakkoli-Moghaddam R., Javadian N., Javadi B., Safaei N. (2007) Design of a facility layout problem in cellular manufacturing systems with stochastic demands. Applied Mathematics and Computation 184: 721–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tompkins J. A., White J. A., Bozer Y. A., Tanchoco J. M. A. (2003) Facilities planning. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatadri U., Rardin R. L., Montreuil B. (1997) A design methodology for fractal layout organization. IIE Transactions 29: 911–924

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster D. B., Tyberghein M. B. (1980) Measuring flexibility of job shop layouts. International Journal of Production Research 18(1): 21–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang T., Peters B. A. (1998) Flexible machine layout design for dynamic and uncertain production environments. European Journal of Operational Research 108: 49–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. S. Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moslemipour, G., Lee, T.S. Intelligent design of a dynamic machine layout in uncertain environment of flexible manufacturing systems. J Intell Manuf 23, 1849–1860 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-010-0499-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-010-0499-8

Keywords

Navigation