Abstract
In the manufacturing process, loop layout problems (LLPs) are preferred to configurations like single row layout, double row layout, cluster layout, and circular layout for their relative lower initial investment costs because they contain a minimal number of required material links to connect all workstations while providing a high degree of material handling flexibility. The performance of a system is based on the impact of the loop layout. Most of these LLPs are non-polynomial hard. Numerous research works related to loop layout have been published. The literature analysis given here is not restricted to specific considerations about loop layout design. This paper aims to deal with the current and future trends of research on LLPs based on previous research including formulations, solution methodologies. A trend toward bidirectional assumption, large-sized test problems, mixed integer programming, shortcuts instead of additional loop, loading and waiting time for shortcuts, integration of the supply chain management with the data envelopment analysis and also integrate exact, decomposition algorithm with metaheuristics, and developing loop layout using metaheuristics such as scatter search algorithm, improved tabu search, and artificial bees colony algorithm to loop layout is observed. Several research directions are pointed out and discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Afentakis P (1989) A loop layout design problem for flexible manufacturing systems. Int J Flex Manuf Syst 1(2):143–175
AsefVaziri A, Dessouky M, Sriskandarajah C (2001) A loop material flow system design for automated guided vehicles. Int J Flex Manuf Syst 13(1):33–48
AsefVaziri A, Laporte G, Ortiz R (2007) Exact and heuristic procedures for the material handling circular flow path design problem. Eur J Oper Res 176:707–726
AsefVaziri A, Laporte G (2005) Loop based facility planning and material handling. Eur J Oper Res 164(1):1–11
Altinel IK, Oncan T (2005) Design of unidirectional cyclic layouts. Int J Prod Res 43(19):3983–4008
AsefVaziri A, Laporte G, Sriskandarajah C (2000) The block layout shortest loop design problem. IIE Trans 32(8):727–734
Banerjee P, Zhou Y (1995) Facilities layout design optimization with single loop material flow path configuration. Int J Prod Res 33(1):183–203
Bennell JA, Potts CN, Whitehead JD (2002) Local search algorithms for the min_max loop layout problem. J Oper Res Soc 53(10):1109–1117
Bartholdi JJ, Platzman LK (1989) Decentralized control of automatic guided vehicles on a simple loop. IIE Trans 21(1):76–81
Bozer YA, Srinivasan MM (1992) Tandem AGV systems; a partitioning algorithm and performance comparison with conventional AGV systems. Eur J Oper Res 63(2):173–192
Bozer YA, Srinivasan MM (1989) Tandem configurations for automated guided vehicle systems and the analysis of single vehicle loop. IIE Trans 23(1):72–82
Bozer YA, Rim SC (1989) Exact solution procedures for the circular layout problem. Technical Report 8933. University of Michigan
Bozer YA, Hsieh YJ (2004) Expected waiting times at loading stations in discrete space closed loop conveyors. Eur J Oper Res 155:516–532
Bozer YA, Hsieh YJ (2005) Throughput performance analysis and machine layout for discrete-space closed-loop conveyors. IIE Trans 37(1):77–89
Caricato P, Ghiani G, Grieco A, Musmanno R (2007) Improved formulation, branch and cut and tabu search for single loop material flow system design. Eur J Oper Res 178(1):85–91
Caricato P, Grieco A (2005) Using simulated annealing to design a material handling system. J IEEE Intell Syst 20(4):26–30
Chae J, Peters BA (2006) A simulated annealing algorithm based on a closed loop layout for facility layout design in flexible manufacturing systems. Int J Prod Res 44(13):2561–2572
Chang SH, Egbelu PJ (1996) Dynamic positioning of AGVs in a loop layout to minimize mean system response time. Int J Prod Res 34(6):1655–1674
Cheng R, Gent M, Tosawa T (1996) Genetic algorithms for designing loop layout manufacturing systems. Comput Ind Eng 31(34):587–591
Cheng R, Gen M (1998) Loop layout design problem in flexible manufacturing systems using genetic algorithms. Comput Sci Ind Eng 34(1):53–61
Egbelu PJ (1993) Positioning of automated guided vehicles in loop layout to improve response time. Eur J Oper Res 71(1):32–44
ElMaraghy HA, Manns M (2009) Synchronisation of inter arrival times in manufacturing systems with main and side loops. Int J Prod Res 47(7):1931–1954
Farahani RZ, Laporte G, Sharifyazdi M (2005) A practical exact algorithm for the shortest loop design problem in a block layout. Int J Prod Res 43(9):1879–1887
Farahani RZ, Pourakbar M, Miandoabchi E (2007) Developing exact and tabu search algorithms for simultaneously determining AGV loop and P/D stations in single loop systems. Int J Prod Res 45(2):5199–5222
Francis RL, McGinnis LF Jr, White JA (1992) Facility layout and location, 2nd edn. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Gademann AJRM, Van de Velde SL (2000) Positioning automated guided vehicles in a loop layout. Eur J Oper Res 127(3):565–573
Ghomi TF, Jaafari AA (2011) Simulation optimization approach for facility layout problem—a queuing theory based approach. J Am Sci 7(1):937–941
Glover F (1989) Tabu search: part I. ORSA J Comput 1:190–206
Glover F (1990) Tabu search: part II. ORSA J Comput 2:4–32
Glover E, Laguna M (1997) Tabu search. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Glover F (1998) A template for scatter search and path relinking. In: Hao JK, Lutton E, Ronald E, Schoenaue M, Snyers D (eds) Lecture notes in computer science. Vol.1363, Springer, Berlin. pp. 13–54
Ho YC (2000) A dynamic zone strategy for vehicle collision prevention and load balancing in an AGV system with a single loop guide path. Comput Ind 42(23):159–176
Hojabri H, Hojabri A, Jaafari AA, Farahani LN (2010) A loop material flow system design. Int Multiconference Eng Comput Sci 3(58):978–988
Hong S, Johnson AL, Carlo HJ, Nazzal D, Jimenez JA (2010) Optimizing the location of crossovers in conveyor-based automated material handling systems in semiconductor wafer fabs. Int J Prod Res pp. 1–28, doi:10.1080/00207543.2010.528059
Johnson AL, Carlo HJ, Jimenez JA, Nazzal D, Lasrado V (2009) A greedy heuristic for locating crossovers in conveyor-based AMHS in wafer fabs. Proceedings of the 2009 Winter Simulation Conference, Rossetti MD, Hill RR, Johansson B, Dunkin A, Ingalls RG (eds), pp. 1667–1676.
Kaku BK, Rachamadugu R (1992) Layout design for flexible manufacturing systems. Eur J Oper Res 57(2):224–230
Karaboga D (2005) An idea based on honey bee swarm for numerical optimization. Technical Report for Computer Engineering Department, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
Karaboga D, Basturk B (2008) On the performance of artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm. Appl Soft Comput 8:687–697
Khan MK, Hussain I, Noor S (2011) A knowledge based methodology for planning and designing of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). Int J Appl Manag Sci 13(1):91–106
Kim JG, Kim YD (2000) Layout planning for facilities with fixed shapes and input and out points. Int J Prod Res 38(2):4635–4653
Kiran AS, Unal AT, Karabati S (1992) A location problem on unicyclic networks: balanced case. Eur J Oper Res 62(2):194–202
Kiran AS, Karabati S (1993) Exact and approximate algorithms for the loop layout problem. Prod Plan Control 4(3):253–259
Kouvelis P, Kim MW (1992) Unidirectional loop network layout problem in automated manufacturing systems. Eur J Oper Res 40(3):533–550
Kumar RMS, Asokan P, Kumanan S (2008) Design of loop layout in flexible manufacturing system using nontraditional optimization technique. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 38(56):594–599
Kumar RMS, Asokan P, Kumanan S (2008) Scatter search algorithm for single row layout problems in FMS. Adv Prod Eng Manag 3(4):193–204
Kumar RMS, Asokan P, Kumanan S (2009) Artificial immune system based algorithm for the unidirectional loop layout problem in a flexible manufacturing system. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 40(56):553–565
Kumar RMS, Asokan P, Kumanan S (2010) An artificial immune system based algorithm to solve linear and loop layout problems in flexible manufacturing systems. Int J Prod Dev 10(1/2/3):165–179
Lazaro AR (2009) Dynamic analysis of an automobile assembly line considering starving and blocking. J Robot Comput Integr Manuf 25(2):271–279
Lasrado V, Nazzal D (2009) Design of a manufacturing facility layout with a closed loop conveyor with shortcuts using queueing theory and GA. Proceedings of the Winter Simulation Conference. Jain S, Creasey RR, Himmelspach J, White KP, Fu M (eds)
Lee SD, Huang KH, Chiang CP (2001) Configuring layout in unidirectional loop manufacturing systems. Int J Prod Res 39(6):1183–1201
Leung J (1992) A graph theoretic heuristic for designing loop layout manufacturing systems. Eur J Oper Res 57(2):243–252
Leung J (1994) Polyhedral structure and properties of a model for layout design. Eur J Oper Res 77(2):195–207
Malakooti B (2004) Unidirectional loop network layout by a LP heuristic and design of telecommunications networks. J Intel Manu 15(2):117–125
Mazinani M, Abedzadeh M, Mohebali N (2012) Dynamic facility layout problem based on flexible bay structure and solving by genetic algorithm. Int J Adv Manuf Technol. doi:10.1007/s00170-012-4229-6
Miandoabchi E, Farahani RZ (2009) Solving the tandem AGV network design problem using tabu search: cases of maximum workload and workload balance with fixed and non fixed number of loops. J Ind Eng Int 5(8):37–51
Moghaddam RT, Panahi H (2007) Solving a new mathematical model of a closed-loop layout problem with unequal- sized facilities by a genetic algorithm. Proceedings of the 2007 I.E. IEEM, pp. 327–331.
Nazzal D, Jimenez JA, Carlo HJ, Johnson AL, Lasrado V (2010) An analytical model for conveyor-based material handling system with crossovers in semiconductor wafer fabs. IEEE Trans Semicond Manuf 23(3):468–476
Nearchou AC (2006) Metaheuristics from nature for the loop layout design problem. Int J Prod Econ 101(2):312–328
Ozcelik F, Islier AA (2006) Unidirectional loop layout problem with balanced flow. Advances in Applied Artificial Intelligence 4031(3):741–749
Ozcelik A, Islier AA (2011) Generalisation of unidirectional loop layout problem and solution by a genetic algorithm. Int J Prod Res 49(3):747–764
Pandian PP (2007) Optimization of loop layout design problem in FMS using particle swarm optimization technique. Proceedings of the International Conference on Modeling and Simulation (CITICOM – 2007), pp. 27–29.
Panahi H, Rabbani M, Moghaddam RT (2008) A comparison of three meta-heuristics for a closed-loop layout problem with unequal-sized facilities. New Challenges Appl Intell Technol Stud Comput Intell 134:265–278
Potts C, Whitehead JD (2001) Workload balancing and loop layout in the design of a flexible manufacturing system. Eur J Oper Res 129(2):326–336
Seo Y, Lee C, Moon C (2007) Tabu search algorithm for flexible flow path design of unidirectional automated guided vehicle systems. OR spectrum 29(2):471–487
Sedehi MS, Farahani RZ (2009) An integrated approach to determine the block layout, AGV flow path and the location of pickup/delivery points in single loop systems. Int J Prod Res 47(11):3041–3061
Sharp GP, Liu FHF (1990) An analytical method for configuring fixed path closed loop material handling systems. Int J Prod Res 28(4):757–783
Sinriech D, Tanchoco JMA (1992) The centroid projection method for locating pickup and delivery stations in a single loop AGV system. J Manuf Syst 11(4):297–307
Sinriech D, Tanchoco JMA (1993) Solution methods for the mathematical models of single loop AGV systems. Int J Prod Res 31(3):705–725
Sinriech D, Tanchoco JMA (1992) Impact of empty vehicle flow on performance of single loop AGV systems. Int J Prod Res 30(10):2237–2252
Sinriech D, Tanchoco JMA (1992) OSL optimal single loop guide paths for AGVS. Int J Prod Res 30(3):665–681
Taha Z, Zuhdi A (2010) Loop layout design problem solution in flexible manufacturing system using virtual factory approach. The 11th Asia Pacific Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Conference
Tanchoco JMA, Guzman DE, Prabhu N (1997) Complexity of the AGV shortest path and single loop guide path layout problems. Int J Prod Res 35(8):2083–2092
Tansel BC, Bilen C (1998) Move based heuristics for the unidirectional loop network layout problem. Eur J Oper Res 108(1):36–48
Ting JH, Tanchoco JM (2000) Unidirectional circular layout for overhead material handling systems. Int J Prod Res 38:3913–3936
Ting JH, Tanchoco JM (2001) Optimal bi-directional spine layout for overhead material handling systems. IEEE Trans Semicond Manuf 14:57–64
Tompkins JA, White JA, Bozer YA, Tanchoco JMA (2003) Facilities planning, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York
AsefVaziri AA, Kazemi M, Eshghi K, Lahmar M (2010) An ant colony system for enhanced loop-based aisle-network design. Eur J Oper Res 207(1):110–120
Ventura JA, Lee C (2001) Tandem loop with multiple vehicles configuration for automated guided vehicle systems. J Manuf Syst 20(3):153–165
Ventura JA, Lee C (2003) Optimally locating multiple dwell points in a single loop guide path system. IIE Trans 35(8):727–737
Ventura JA, Rieksts BQ (2009) Optimal location of dwell points in a single loop AGV with time restrictions on vehicle availability. Eur J Oper Res 192(1):93–104
Yu W, Egbelu PJ (2001) Design of variable path tandem layout for automated guided vehicle systems. J Manuf Syst 20(5):305–319
Yang T, Peters BA (1997) A spine layout design method for semiconductor fabrication facilities containing automated material handling systems. IntJ Oper Prod Manag 17(5):490–501
Yang T, Peters BA (1997) Integrated facility layout and material handling system design in semiconductor fabrication facilities. IEEE Transf Semicond Manuf 10(3):360–369
Yang T, Peters BA, Tu M (2005) Layout design for flexible manufacturing systems considering single loop directional flow patterns. Eur J Oper Res 164(2):440–455
Zheng XJ, Teng HF (2010) Relative position coded differential evolution for loop based station sequencing problem. J Prod Res 48(18):5327–5344
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saravanan, M., Ganesh Kumar, S. Different approaches for the loop layout problems: a review. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 69, 2513–2529 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-5133-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-5133-4