Simulation Optimization of Facility Layout Design Problem with Ambiguous Environment and Health Indicators

This paper presents an integrated algorithm based on fuzzy simulation (FS), fuzzy linear programming (FLP), and fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA) to cope with a special case of workshop facility layout design (FLD) problem with ambiguous environmental and health indicators. First a software package is used for generating feasible layout alternatives and then quantitative performance indicators are calculated. Weights are estimated by LP for pair wise comparisons (by linguistic terms)in evaluating certain qualitative performance indicators. Fuzzy simulation is then employed for modeling different layout alternatives with uncertain parameters. Next, the impacts of environment and health indicators are retrieved from a standard questionnaire. Finally, FDEA is used for ranking the alternatives and consequently finding the optimal layout design alternatives. Apossibilistic programming approach is used to modify the fuzzy DEA model to an equivalent crisp one. Moreover, fuzzy principal component analysis(FPCA) method is used to validate the results of FDEA model at various α-cut levels by Spearman correlation experiment. This is the first study that presents an integrated algorithm for optimization of facility layout with environmental and health indicators

FacilitiesPlanningandDesign;Data Envelopment Analysis; Fuzzy Sets; Simulation Optimization; Environment; Health