A problem evolution algorithm with linear programming for the dynamic facility layout problem—A general layout formulation

Yiyong Xiao, Yue Xie, Sadan Kulturel-Konak, Abdullah Konak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Facility layout problems (FLPs) are quite common and important in many industries. This paper presents a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for the dynamic facility layout problem, which is a generalization of several special cases of FLPs studied in recent years. A new evolutionary meta-heuristic framework, named as the problem evolution algorithm (PEA), is developed as a general solution approach for FLPs. Computational experiments show that the PEA combined with the linear programming (LP), called PEA-LP in short, performs well in various types of FLPs. In addition, a new polyhedral inner-approximation method is proposed based on secant lines for the linearization of the non-linear constraint for department area requirements. This new method guarantees that the actual department area is always greater than or equal to the required area within a given maximum deviation error. Furthermore, two new symmetry-breaking constraints which help to improve the computational efficiency of the MILP model are also introduced. Computational experiments on several well-known problem instances from the literature are carried out to test the DFLP-FZ and the PEA-LP with promising results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-207
Number of pages21
JournalComputers and Operations Research
Volume88
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Computer Science
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Management Science and Operations Research

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