An entropy-based algorithm to solve the facility layout design problem

This paper presents a new design approach used in order to solve the facility layout problem. The layout problem is viewed from the general perspective as a problem of the arrangement of elements within a system. The main attributes and relationships among the elements of the system are analyzed. A new algorithm for the generation of the layout of workstations or departments in the industrial plant is proposed. The algorithm evaluates each possible arrangement by an entropy function, and then the layout with the lowest entropy value is selected as the optimal solution. The algorithm has been applied to the design problem reported by Francis and White (1974). Francis and White’s [1] design problem has been used as a test problem in previous research works.