Production flow analysis and simplification toolkit (PFAST)

The layout of a facility is a key factor that influences its ability to red uce throughput times, maintain low WIP levels and maximize space utilizatio n. Traditionally, a facility planner uses, as-is, the from-to chart represe ntation of the material flow network in the facility to design a new layout . This paper introduces the production flow analysis and simplification too lkit (PFAST) to evaluate and simplify the material flow network in any faci lity prior to the design of the layout. The idea for PFAST resulted from th e observation that algorithms for machine and part family grouping for cell formation could be applied to layout design. The algorithms for cell forma tion tend to use operation sequences (or a 0-1 matrix, bipartite graph or h ypergraph representation). The algorithms for facility layout primarily use the from-to chart derived from the operation sequences. Depending on the t ype of input data and desired results, PFAST offers a variety of algorithms to the facility planner. In this survey paper, eleven algorithms that comp rise the current version of this toolkit are reviewed and demonstrated usin g a single data set. The paper concludes with a description of several ways in which the outputs from different algorithms in this library could be us ed synergistically to support facility layout.