Stochastic Programming Models for Dynamic Facility Layout Problem in Flexible Manufacturing Systems

An appropriate facility layout is required to reduce total manufacturing cost, especially in uncertain environments. The design of a desirable facility layout is essential when the rearrangement of the facilities is expensive. Using Routing Flexibility (RF) as a principle of the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) can lead to the fulfillment of this need. This paper propounds two new mathematical models for the Dynamic Facility Layout Problem (DFLP) with stochastic approaches. The RF is considered when the demands of the independent parts follow Exponential and Normal distributions in which their parameters randomly alter from period to period. The primary nonlinear models are first linearized by the proposed innovative technique. Then, the performance of the proposed models and the linearization technique is assessed by solving two test problems. Next, the RF effect on the manufacturing system is analyzed. The obtained results verify the validity and applicability of the proposed models. It is also shown that the suggested linearization technique is an efficient technique with 99% accuracy, even if convexity conditions are not met.