Machinery Optimal Layout Design of a Production System with the Aim of Reducing Transportation Costs Using an Imperialist Competitive Algorithm

In this study, solutions for machinery layout with the aim of reducing transportation costs will be discussed. To do this, an imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA), which is a very complicated and effective meta-heuristic algorithm is introduced. In the offered algorithm, different kinds of machinery layout are considered in single-row as a country and then the best possible layout is developed based on ICA phases such as revolution and absorption policy, population displacement and production and applying its steps on the machinery, possible layouts are investigated by considering the distance of machinery pairs and components’ manufacturing routes.. The results show that using this algorithm, layout of machines would have the most favorable form based on used machinery to produce components.