Tree Structure Modeling and Genetic Algorithm-based Approach to Unequal-area Facility Layout Problem

A tree structure model has been proposed for representing the unequal-area facility layout. Each facility has a different rectangular shape specified by its area and aspect ratio. In this layout problem, based on the assumption that the shop floor has enough space for laying out the facilities, no constraint is considered for a shop floor. Objectives are minimizing total part movement between facilities and total rectangular layout area where all facilities and dead spaces are enclosed. Using the genetic code corresponding to two kinds of information, facility sequence and branching positions in the tree structure model, a genetic algorithm has been applied for finding non-dominated solutions in the two-objective layout problem. We use three kinds of crossover (PMX, OX, CX) for the former part of the chromosome and one-point crossover for the latter part. Two kinds of layout problems have been tested by the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the presented algorithm is able to find good solutions in enough short time.