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The IUP Journal of Operations Management

Alternative Process Model for Optimization of Dynamic Cellular Facility Layout

Article Details

Pub. Date	: May, 2022
Product Name	: The IUP Journal of Operations Management
Product Type	: Article
Product Code	: IJOM010522
Author Name	: Kamal Deep
Availability	: YES
Subject/Domain	: Management
Download Format	: PDF Format
No. of Pages	: 36

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Abstract

This paper addresses a Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) model for the Dynamic Cellular Facility Layout Problem (DCFLP) that leads to effective utilization of resources, minimum throughput time, and reduction in material handling, considering alternative process routes for part types. The proposed model objectively allocates resources to manufacturing cells, evolving an optimal facility layout for multi-period dynamic production. The NP-hard (Non-Deterministic Polynomial-Time Hardness) QAP model for the DCFLP is difficult to solve using the conventional method of optimization in a reasonable time span. A Genetic Simulated Annealing (GSA) algorithm -based heuristic approach is developed to explore the four-dimensional search space (Machines- Parts-Workers-Location) of DCFLP in a reasonable time. The algorithm is capable enough to deal with any configuration of layout type with ease in grid pattern (Horizontal line, Vertical columns, U-Shape Layout and Circular Shape Layout), evolving an optimal cellular facility layout in multi- period dynamic production. The comparative results of metaheuristics (Genetic Algorithm (GA), Simulated Annealing (SA) and GSA) for the randomly generated instances substantiate the efficacy of the proposed model.

Introduction

Facility layout can be defined as the arrangement of facilities within the given number of locations. An efficient layout of facilities can improve the efficacy of the production system by curtailing the throughput time of part types and the frequency of material handling (Ariafar et al., 2011). Tompkins and John (1984) evaluated the effective setup of facilities in the layout providing two major advantages: (1) safer working conditions on extending the process specialization, and (2) reduction in the manual effort by plummeting the material congestions and their handling. Yaman et al. (1993) emphasized on the design of effective plant layout inhibiting the material handling