A multicriteria clustering approach to facility layout generation

Abstract

This paper proposes a facility layout generation model based on hierarchical clustering for problems with multiple objectives. Deploying the proximity score, the proposed model addresses all three stages of a typical block layout generation procedure viz., selection of departments to be placed; 'construction' or placement of each department and evaluation of the alternatives generated. The model is explained using a numerical example each for single and multiple objective type layout problems. Finally, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the heuristic, a set of problems solved by various researchers is put together and solved and the results compared with their best solutions.