This paper presents a decision-making methodology based on a simple nonlinear programming model, which uses both quantitative and qualitative criteria, for evaluating facility layout design. A computer-aided layout-planning tool, Spiral, is adopted to facilitate the layout alternative design process as well as to collect quantitative. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is then applied to collect qualitative data related to quality and flexibility. A non-linear programming (NLP) model is proposed to solve the layout design problem by simultaneously considering both the quantitative and qualitative data. The purposed integrated procedure is applied to a real data.

This paper presents a strategy for using Harmony Search algorithm in facility layout optimization problems. In this paper an adapted harmony search algorithm is developed for solving facility layout optimization problems. This method finds an optimal facility arrangement in an existing layout. Two real-world case studies are employed to demonstrate the efficiency of this model. A comparison is also made to illustrate the efficiency of these strategies in facility layout optimization.

facility layout Problem (FLP) is an important issue in plant design, which directly affects production costs as well as safety concerns. Hierarchical and integrated approaches are two main methods used for the formulation of FLP. In the hierarchical approach, FLP is solved after the completion of the process design and scheduling, while the integrated approach treats FLP simultaneously with other phases. This paper presents a new approach based on the candidate groups for interactive functions; incorporating the advantages of the previous approaches.In the new approach, the design phases prior to FLP results in a set of models introducing by the engineering team in advance. Next, the models are solved such that instead of individual designs, a set of suggested structures are generated. These structures are then fed into the FLP as input data and solved by mixed integer programming technique. Some characteristics of the models are: presence of the hub stations, different and variable dimensions for each station, possibility of rotation for the stations and incorporating safety distances. Finally, test problems are solved and results are discussed. It should be noted that if a candidate group entails a different production flow then a different optimum solution might be obtained.

In this paper, the recently developed meta-heuristic optimization algorithm, known as the charged system search (CSS), is utilized for the problems of facility locations on a network.The CSS is an optimization algorithm that acts on the basis of the interaction between charged particles (CPs) considering the governing laws of Coulomb and Gauss from electrical physics and laws of motion from Newtonian mechanics.

facility layout is a problem that is related to the location of facilities in a plant. Numerous researches have been done about facility layout because of facility layout variety. Up to now, many models have been presented about facility layout. One of the main problems of these models is not paying enough attention to the external and internal problems of the system. In addition to external competitors, some internal problems of system such as material handling system designing affect layout designs. For considering these effects, some researchers have provided multi-objective approaches that in most cases lead to the optimization of a linear combination of objective functions. The provided multi-objective approaches have not enough efficiency, because of the difficulty of normalizing these functions and quantifying the weights. On the condition that external competitor behavior and participating different sections in internal problems decision-making effect on facility layout, the above models seems unrealistic. In this paper, a game model is proposed that make possible designing facility layout in duopoly monopolized markets through considering the designer's decisions effects. Finally, through an example, the proposed game model is compared with the existing models. This example shows using the linear combination of cost functions in the case of decisions are made by a team, is not necessarily cause improvement in executing manufacturing system. In this situation, game theory can be a suitable instrument in order to make equilibrium strategies between two groups with conflict interests.

The Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) is one of the problems of combinatorial optimization belonging to the NP-hard problems’ class and has a wide application in the placement of facilities. Thus far, many efforts have been made to solve this problem and countless algorithms have been developed to achieve the optimal solutions; one of which is the Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm. This paper aims at finding a suitable layout for the facilities of an industrial workshop by using a Developed Simulated Annealing (DSA) method.