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Abstract
The component layout problem requires efficient search of large, discontinuous spaces. The
efficient layout planning of a production site is a fundamental task to any project undertaking. This
paper describes a genetic algorithm (GA) to solve the problem of optimal facilities layout in
manufacturing system design so that material-handling costs are minimized. The performance of the
proposed heuristic is tested over problems selected from the literature. Computational results indicate
that the proposed approach gives better results compared to many existing algorithms in this area.
1990). Accurate mathematical solutions do highly unlikely that exact solution to the
not exist for such problem. The complexity general layout problem can be obtained in an
of such problems increases exponentially amount of time that is bounded by a
with the number of devices. For instance, a polynomial in the size of the problem,
flexible manufacturing system (FMS) resulting in prohibitive computation time for
consisting of N machines will comprise a large problems. Heuristic algorithms are
solution space with the size N. The problem typically used to generate acceptable
is theoretically solvable also by testing all solutions. As will be discussed, general
possibilities (i.e., random searching) but algorithms typically require some level of
practical experience shows that in such (stochastic) perturbation to avoid local
manner of solving the capabilities of either optima.
the human or the computer are fast exceeded. Various models and solution approaches
For arranging the devices in the FMS the have been proposed during past three
number of possible solutions is equal to the decades. Heuristic techniques were
number of permutations of N elements. introduced to seek near-optimal solutions at
When N is large, it is difficult, if not reasonable computational time for large
impossible, to produce the optimal solution scaled problems covering several known
within a reasonable time, even with support methods such as improvement, construction
of a powerful computer. With today's and hybrid methods, and graph-theory
computation power of modern computers it methods [10]. However, the area of
is possible to search for the optimum researches is still always interesting for
solution by examining the total space of many researchers, since today the problems
solutions somewhere up to the dimensions of are solved by new methods and with the
space 10. In case of problems of larger possibility of application of much greater
dimensions it is necessary to use computation capacity of modern computers.
sophisticated solving methods which, during A variety of optimization algorithms have
examining the solution space somehow limit been applied to the layout problem. Some of
themselves and utilize possible solutions the approaches may be efficient for specific
already examined [8]. types of problems, but often place
restrictions on component geometry,
allowable degrees-of-freedom, and the
3. LAYOUT SEARCH ALGORITHMS objective function formulation. Others are
applicable to a wider variety of problems but
The layout problem can have different may require prohibitively long computing
formulations, but it is usually abstracted as time to solve even simplistic problems.
an optimization problem. An assignment of Layout algorithms can be classified into
the coordinates and orientations of different categories according to search
components that minimizes the cost and strategies used for design space exploration.
satisfies certain placement requirements is The target of all methods is the minimum
sought. The problem can be viewed as a transport costs, but they differ in
generalization of the quadratic assignment exactingness, particularly in the length of the
problem and therefore belongs to the class of procedure. However, it cannot be decided
NP-hard problems [9]. Consequently it is with certainty which basic method and/or
I.Mihajlovi} / SJM 2 (1) (2007) 35 - 46 39
method of improvement of the layout is the C total cost of material handling system.
best.
The total cost function is defined as:
3.1. Fitness function
M M
9 7 8
numerical examples. The example is taken solutions since the number of sampling
from Chan and Tansri [13] and compared solutions from the solution space is enlarged.
with the work of Mak, Wong and Chan [14] The general cost performance for the four
as well as with work of El-Baz [6] whom different approaches is studied with the used
used same example to evaluate their work. sampling solution space.
The stopping criterion for iteration was Fig. 2 shows some of the resulting
obtaining a value of fitness C (Eq. (1)), equal optimal machine layouts giving a material
to the best value obtained in above papers. handling cost of value equal to 4818 i.e.
The plant flow of materials between solutions that are equivalent compared to
machines and material handling cost ones proposed by models selected for
between machines are presented in tables 1 comparison from the literature.
and 2, respectively. The plant configuration Results presented by Chan and Tansri
layout is 3X3 grid. In this example, using 9 [13], Mak, Wong and Chan [14] and El-Baz
machines, there are 362880 possible [6] are also the optimal solutions for studied
solutions in the solution space e.g.(9!). example. Results obtained by proposed
approach are the same yet obtained with less
Table 1. Flow of materials between machines
From/To 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 100 3 0 6 35 190 14 12
2 6 8 109 78 1 1 104
3 0 0 17 100 1 31
4 100 1 247 178 1
5 1 10 1 79
6 0 1 0
7 0 0
8 12
9
4 8 5 7 1 6 6 2 5
3 9 2 3 9 2 1 9 8
7 1 6 4 8 5 7 3 4
5 2 6 5 8 4 4 3 7
8 9 1 2 9 3 8 9 1
4 3 7 6 1 7 5 2 6
This work
5300 M.Adel El-Baz
Mak et al.
5200 Chan and Tansri
5100
5000
Optimal results
4900
4800
4700
4600
4500