THE SCOPE OF GENETIC ALGORITHMS IN DEALING WITH FACILITY LAYOUT PROBLEMS

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the application of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), an important methodology in facility layout problems that can be used to gauge current and emerging trends in new design objectives and methodologies that address combinatorial optimisation aspects. The new developments in layout research analysed in this study provide a perspective on what the future of the field of study will be like. A tendency to use meta-heuristics like GA, which lean toward multi-objective approaches to layout and material handling system design, is observed. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie artikel bied ‘n hedendaagse oorsig oor die aanwending van die Genetiese Algoritme (GA). DIt is ‘n belangrike metodologie vir fasiliteitsuitlegprobleme wat gebruik kan word om die huidige en ontluikende tendense te bepaal in nuwe ontwerpdoelwitte- en metodologie wat kombinatoriese optimisasie aspekte aanspreek. Die nuwe ontwikkelinge in uitlegnavorsing wat in hierdie artikel ondersoek word, verskaf ‘n perspektief op die toekoms van die studieveld. ‘n Tendens wat waargeneem word, is om meta-heuristiek soos GA aan te wend wat neig tot multi-doelwit-benaderings vir uitleg- en materiaalhanteringsontwerp.