Safety-integrated single-row machine layout problem optimization using GA and TS with a novel heuristic rule support

This paper suggests analyzing a single-row flow path machine layout with unequal size and clearance from the semiconductor industry's safety perspective. The traditional layout approach focuses on the factors related to material handling concerning the needed area, workforce, flow distance, and material handling cost reduction. However, health and safety measures have a significant influence on manufacturing layout productivity. These measures enable work satisfaction, employer safety, and avoidance of occupational accidents. The proposed mathematical model integrates safety measures in machine layout design due to occupational health and safety indispensable for machine layout problems. By safety effect, the total cost is reduced approximately by 16%. A hybridization is suggested to combine new heuristic rule and tabu search algorithm with multiple objectives for benchmarking two problems: single-row machine layout with safety and a traditional single-row machine layout. A multi-objective heuristic rule supported genetic algorithm is developed to improve the results in addition to the multi-objective heuristic rule supported tabu search. The proposed hybrid algorithms are tested on 10 example sets with varieties of 10, 20, and 30 machines, and their results are compared. The computational results with hybrid meta-heuristics show the safety factor should be considered primarily in the machine layout problem .