A solution to the facility layout problem using simulated annealing

Layout of temporary facilities on a construction site is essential to enhancing productivity and safety, and is a complex issue due to the unique nature of construction. This paper proposes a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based methodology to solve the construction site unequal-area facility layout problem. A priority-based particle representation of the candidate solutions to the layout problem is proposed. The particle-represented solution in terms of priorities should be transformed to the specific layout plan with consideration of nonoverlap and geometric constraints. In addition, a modified solution space boundary handling approach is proposed for controlling particle updating with regard to the priority value range. Computational experiments are carried out to justify the efficiency of the proposed method and investigate its underlying performances. This study aims at providing an alternative and effective means for solving the construction site unequal-area layout problem by utilizing the PSO algorithm.

Particle Swarm Optimization for Construction Site Unequal-Area Layout

This paper presents the results of case study research conducted at a major US automotive firm. Four waves of qualitative data were collected to identify the organizational and technological changes needed to implement concurrent engineering practices. The desire to cut product development time was the driving factor in a strategy designed to boost sales and market share. The company was successful in shortening concept-to-market time by over one year on its first newly designed vehicle, primarily through the use of product-focused, cross-functional platform teams which permitted the early integration of manufacturing personnel into product and process development. While technology played an important role in this transformation, organizational, and human resource changes were the greatest enablers.

Operationalizing the concept of concurrent engineering: a case study from the US auto industry

This paper illustrates how recent tragedies have been shown to be threatening to the medium-term sustainability of organizations designed and developed solely on the basis of short-term efficiency gain. Over the past 30 years, Western organizations have institutionalized this emphasis on efficiencies through the implementation of Japanese management philosophies, such as lean thinking. This situation has assisted the removal of vital adaptive and responsive capacity or 'organizational slack', necessary for organizations that need to contend with complex and dynamic environments. The authors argue for the need to challenge managerial mindsets and re-engage a pluralist metaperspective both at the level of strategic purpose and organizational configuration. In particular, it suggests that, in addition to the efficiency model, a complementary and to some extent alternative set of 'high-reliability' organization (HRO) design principles are required. They focus on the notion of creating an HRO that privileges integrity in the achievement of medium- and long-term goals over short-term efficiency gains. Integrating both 'lean thinking' and 'high-reliability' principles is a requirement for post-modern managers operating in their roles as organizational engineers, if mission accomplishment is to be realized.

Integrating ‘lean’ and ‘high reliability’ thinking

Many existing algorithms for facility layout problems give block layouts in which departments have irregular shapes. This paper presents algorithms to modify shapes of departments in a given block layout with such departments. With the suggested algorithms, a given block layout is converted into a new block layout in which departments are of rectangular shapes without a significant change in the relative positions of the departments. Results of computational experiments show that the suggested algorithms give block layouts that are at least as good as original layouts in terms of the total transportation distance.

Algorithms for adjusting shapes of departments in block layouts on the grid-based plane

A framework for supporting the organization and structuring of product development teams under concurrent engineering environment is presented. The concepts of Team Structuring Dimensions (TSD) and Development Characteristics and Factors (DCF) are defined. Based on the concepts, the framework analyzes the emphasis that should be placed on each TSD according to the DCFs, and each different combination of the emphasis defines a more appropriate team organization and structuring. A more appropriate team organization facilitates the communication and information sharing between the team members, and the quality of this communication is essential for product development effectiveness and efficiency. The effectiveness of the framework is discussed by real cases in product development projects.

Strategy for supporting organization and structuring of development teams in concurrent engineering

In this paper, we present a facility layout planning method based on Al search techniques and on a set of rules and criteria called AILAY. This method may be classified as a combined constructive and improvement layout planning method, and the development and selection of its search rules and criteria are based on problem-specific knowledge. We also present the main test results and conclusions about the performance and robustness of AILAY and each of its search rules

Li Chung Shih

Papers

Strategy for supporting organization and structuring of development teams in concurrent engineering

An AI-search technique-based layout planning method