Re-layout and Robust Machine Layout Design under Stochastic Demand

摘要

In manufacturing business, variability in customer demand over time-periods has led to production flexibility on the shop floor area. Placement of machines in a limited manufacturing area is one of the essential plant designs in material flow between machines. Shortened material handling distance can be considered a key performance index of internal logistic activity in a manufacturing firm. This paper presents the application of the Genetic Algorithm for designing machine layouts that minimise total material handling cost based on demand uncertainty during time-periods. The experimental study was computationally conducted based on two scenarios: re-layout after demand changing; and robust layout (no machine movement even if demand changes). A trade-off between the shortened handling distance and total cost was discussed as being a business decisionmaking tool.