Design of single-row layouts for flexible manufacturing systems using genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm

In this paper layout design in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) is addressed. Optimal design of the physical layout is one of the most important issues that must be solved in early stages of the FMS design. For FMSs, the layout design is even more crucial than in conventional manufacturing systems. Developing a machine layout is an important step in designing manufacturing facilities due to the impact of the material handling cost and time, on throughput, and on productivity of the facility. A layout type that has been extensively implemented in FMSs is the single row machine layout. In this paper simulated annealing algorithm and genetic algorithm proposed and the performance of the two algorithms for solving the single row machine layout problem is evaluated