MATERIAL FLOW-ANALYSIS AND VOLUME DISTANCE SAMPLING IN HEURISTIC LINELAYOUT PROCEDURES

An empirical investigation is focused on the relationship between mate rial flow patterns in a manufacturing system and the distribution of t he volume distance values associated with all possible solutions to a line layout problem. Volume distance distribution for line layout prob lems are shown to follow roughly normal distribution for some common m aterial flow patterns. Based on this result, sampling procedures are d escribed for estimating the parameters of volume distance distribution s and proposed as a basis for formulating satisficing criteria for use with heuristic line layout procedures. Subsequent empirical studies s uggest relatively low levels of error are observed in the estimation o f volume distance parameters for most material flow patterns. These re sults suggest that volume distance sampling and material flow analysis procedures may have practical value in the development of cost effect ive stopping criteria for heuristic line layout methods.