Layout Optimization of Flexible Manufacturing Cells Based on Fuzzy Demand and Machine Flexibility

Xiaodong Zhang, Hongli Zhou and Dongfang Zhao

Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2018, vol. 2018, 1-12

Abstract:

Layout flexibility is critical for the performance of flexible manufacturing cells, especially in dynamic production environment. To improve layout flexibility, layout optimization should consider more flexible factors based on existed models. On the one hand, not only should the current production demands be covered, but also the future uncertain demands should be considered so that the cell can adapt to the dynamic changes in a long term. On the other hand, the flexibility of machines should be balanced in the layout in order to guarantee that the cell can deal with dynamic new product introduction. Starting from these two points, we formulate a layout optimization model based on fuzzy demand and machine flexibility and then develop a genetic algorithm with bilayer chromosome to solve the model. We apply this new model to a flexible cell of shell products and test its performance by comparing it with the classical two-stage model. The total logistics path of the new model is shown to be significantly shorter than the classical model. Then we carry out adaptability experiments to test the flexibility of the new model. For the dynamic situation of both the fluctuation of production demands and the introduction of new products, the new model shows obvious advantages to the classical model. The results indicate that this advantage becomes greater as the dynamics becomes greater, which implies that considering fuzzy demand and machine flexibility is necessary and reasonable in layout optimization, especially when the dynamics of the production environment is dramatic.

Date: 2018
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/MPE/2018/4018628.pdf (application/pdf)
http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/MPE/2018/4018628.xml (text/xml)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hin:jnlmpe:4018628

DOI: 10.1155/2018/4018628

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Mathematical Problems in Engineering from Hindawi
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Mohamed Abdelhakeem ().