Design of row-based flexible manufacturing system with evolutionary computation

This paper discusses design of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) in one or multiple rows. Evolutionary computation, particularly genetic algorithms (GAs) proved to be successful in search of optimal solution for this type of problems. The model of solution, the most suitable way of coding the solutions into the organisms and the selected evolutionary and genetic operators are presented. In this connection, the most favourable number of rows and the sequence of devices in the individual row are established by means of genetic algorithms (GAs). In the end the test results of the application made and the analysis are discussed