Genetic algorithms, function optimization, and facility layout design

The use of genetic algorithms to solve function optimization probelms requires a coding scheme that represents solutions as strings of finite length. In this paper, a coding scheme designed for facility layout is presented. A solution is represented by the postorder sequence of the nodes in a slicing tree. New solutions are generated by applying the various genetic operators in each generation. The genetic algorithm approach is compared with a local search technique in solving problems with sizes ranging from 12 to 30 facilities. The results demonstrate that a genetic algorithm can be a viable tool to solve large scale layout problems.