A Combined Fuzzy Goal Programming and Big-Bang Big-Crunch Algorithm for Workforce Optimisation with Facility Layout Consideration

Abstract

Small scale enterprises constitute an important subset of manufacturing economy and the contribution of facility redesign in bridging the performance gaps in small-scale enterprises is necessary for enterprise growth and stability. In this paper, a bi-objective programming-based facility layout design problem is formulated. We minimise workforce costs and maximise efficiency improvement in a layout. We utilised fuzzy goal programming and big-bang big-crunch algorithm in generating a Pareto solution. The model was tested using a small-scale sachet water production enterprise data. Increase in finished goods area was 66.55% while reduction in total annual distance travelled in the facility was 48.22% when the proposed layout was compared with existing one. Reduction in annual cost of labour was 16.2%. The possibility of using work-centres with high number of interrelationship was confirmed using quality function deployment and Hurwicz criterion. The optimal workforce size was found to be 14 workers against the existing workforce strength of 18 workers. The study provides a framework upon which small-scale sachet water production factories can be designed for optimum performance.