A review on implementation of meta-heuristic approaches for layout problems in dynamic business environment

Abstract

Arrangement of the facilities on shop floor in industries termed as facility layout planning. It is a vital issue at the premature stage while designing a manufacturing structure because it affects the total manufacturing cost considerably. The dynamic environment is such an industrial condition in which flexibility exists in the demand of the product. The purpose of this research paper is to present a review on the implementation of meta-heuristics approaches for handling the problem of facility layout in a dynamic environment. Various meta-heuristic approaches which have been implemented in facility layout planning (FLP) are discussed briefly and the percent utilisation of different approaches is analysed in various time spans. Tabu search (TS), genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimisation (PSO), and ant colony optimisation (ACO) are several typically used methods by researchers for layout optimisation. In the present study, % utilisation of these algorithms has been analysed for different time span, ACO utilised by maximum researchers in the time span '2010-2015'. The present study also revealed GA has been executed by most of the researchers (25%), whereas PSO (8%) utilised by very least designers.Keywords: dynamic environment; meta-heuristic; optimisation; facility layout planning; hybrid approaches.Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sharma, P. and Singhal, S. A review on implementation of meta-heuristic approaches for layout problems 7Sandeep Singhal is currently working as an Associate Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, Haryana, India, an institution of national importance. Currently, he is the Chairman of ISTE, Haryana Chapter. He is a PhD from NIT, Kurukshetra. He has more than 25 years of teaching, research and professional experience and has authored more than 40 research papers in reputed national and international peer reviewed journals and conferences. He has authored a book on entrepreneurship. His areas of interest are SCM, ERP, TQM, entrepreneurship, facility management, etc. He has worked with AICTE and NBA the apex regulatory body for technical education in various capacities for seven years and was closely associated with Washington Accord. He has guided/guiding research scholars at MTech and PhD levels.