ASSIGNMENT
Topic: COMPUTERIZED LAYOUT ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
Submitted By:
SAMYADIP CHAKRABORTY
MOHD. ABDUL NAYEEM
PhD Batch -2010
COMPUTERIZED LAYOUT ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
In the field of computerized layout analysis, a number of computerized layout programs have been developed since the 1960s and 70s. But the most time tested computerized layout techniques and software program packages that are frequently used are- CRAFT, CORELAP, ALDEP, etc. Originally developed in late 60’s and early 70s, many of these packages are still around with latest additions to their features.
Layout problems often involve a given number of facilities which must be located in the plane. Each of these facilities has a given area, and the cost of interactions between every facility pair is known. Problem optimality is achieved when facilities do not overlap and the total cost, which is the sum of weighted distances between all pairs of facilities, is minimized.
CRAFT (Computerized Relative Allocation of Facilities Technique)
CRAFT (Computerized Relative Allocation of Facilities technique) is the most widely applied. CRAFT algorithm was originally developed by Armour and Buffa in the 1970s. It is more widely used than ALDEP and CORELAP. It starts with an initial layout and improves the layout by interchanging the departments pair-wise so that the transportation cost is minimized. CRAFT method uses the same basic idea used for a factory layout with certain significant operational differences. It requires a load and a distance matrix as initial inputs and also feeds in data regarding the cost involved per unit distance moved. With these inputs and an initial layout in the program, CRAFT attempts to improve the relative placement of the departments as measured by total material handling cost for the layout. CRAFT is a method of "successive" improvements. CRAFT uses a pair wise exchange to develop an improved layout. It makes improvements by exchanging pairs