Overview of Dynamic Facility Layout Planning as a Sustainability Strategy

[EN] The facility layout design problem is significantly relevant within the business operations strategies framework and has emerged as an alternate strategy towards supply chain sustainability. However, its wide coverage in the scientific literature has focused mainly on the static planning approach and disregarded the dynamic approach, which is very useful in real-world applications. In this context, the present article offers a literature review of the dynamic facility layout problem (DFLP). First, a taxonomy of the reviewed papers is proposed based on the problem formulation current trends (related to the problem type, planning phase, planning approach, number of facilities, number of floors, number of departments, space consideration, department shape, department dimensions, department area, and materials handling configuration); the mathematical modeling approach (regarding the type of model, type of objective function, type of constraints, nature of market demand, type of data, and distance metric), and the considered solution approach. Then, the extent to which recent research into DFLP has contributed to supply chain sustainability by addressing its three performance dimensions (economic, environmental, social) is described. Finally, some future research guidelines are provided.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Project CADS4.0, grant number RTI2018-101344-B-I00; and the Valencian Community ERDF Programme 2014-2020, grant number IDIFEDER/2018/025.Pérez-Gosende, P.; Mula, J.; Díaz-Madroñero Boluda, FM. (2020). Overview of Dynamic Facility Layout Planning as a Sustainability Strategy. Sustainability. 12(19):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198277S1161219Ghassemi Tari, F., & Neghabi, H. (2015). A new linear adjacency approach for facility layout problem with unequal area departments. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 37, 93-103. doi:10.1016/j.jmsy.2015.09.003Kheirkhah, A., Navidi, H., & Messi Bidgoli, M. (2015). Dynamic Facility Layout Problem: A New Bilevel Formulation and Some Metaheuristic Solution Methods. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 62(3), 396-410. doi:10.1109/tem.2015.2437195Altuntas, S., & Selim, H. (2012). Facility layout using weighted association rule-based data mining algorithms: Evaluation with simulation. Expert Systems with Applications, 39(1), 3-13. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2011.06.045Ku, M.-Y., Hu, M. H., & Wang, M.-J. (2011). Simulated annealing based parallel genetic algorithm for facility layout problem. International Journal of Production Research, 49(6), 1801-1812. doi:10.1080/00207541003645789Navidi, H., Bashiri, M., & Messi Bidgoli, M. (2012). A heuristic approach on the facility layout problem based on game theory. International Journal of Production Research, 50(6), 1512-1527. doi:10.1080/00207543.2010.550638Hosseini-Nasab, H., Fereidouni, S., Fatemi Ghomi, S. M. T., & Fakhrzad, M. B. (2017). Classification of facility layout problems: a review study. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 94(1-4), 957-977. doi:10.1007/s00170-017-0895-8Carter, C. R., & Rogers, D. S. (2008). A framework of sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 38(5), 360-387. doi:10.1108/09600030810882816Carter, C. R., & Washispack, S. (2018). Mapping the Path Forward for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Review of Reviews. Journal of Business Logistics, 39(4), 242-247. doi:10.1111/jbl.12196Roy, V., Schoenherr, T., & Charan, P. (2018). The thematic landscape of literature in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 38(4), 1091-1124. doi:10.1108/ijopm-05-2017-0260Barbosa-Póvoa, A. P., da Silva, C., & Carvalho, A. (2018). Opportunities and challenges in sustainable supply chain: An operations research perspective. European Journal of Operational Research, 268(2), 399-431. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2017.10.036Tonelli, F., Evans, S., & Taticchi, P. (2013). Industrial sustainability: challenges, perspectives, actions. International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 7(2), 143. doi:10.1504/ijbir.2013.052576Sánchez-Flores, R. B., Cruz-Sotelo, S. E., Ojeda-Benitez, S., & Ramírez-Barreto, M. E. (2020). Sustainable Supply Chain Management—A Literature Review on Emerging Economies. Sustainability, 12(17), 6972. doi:10.3390/su12176972Ford, S., & Despeisse, M. (2016). Additive manufacturing and sustainability: an exploratory study of the advantages and challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production, 137, 1573-1587. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.150Kamble, S. S., Gunasekaran, A., & Gawankar, S. A. (2018). Sustainable Industry 4.0 framework: A systematic literature review identifying the current trends and future perspectives. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 117, 408-425. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2018.05.009Khuntia, J., Saldanha, T. J. V., Mithas, S., & Sambamurthy, V. (2018). Information Technology and Sustainability: Evidence from an Emerging Economy. Production and Operations Management, 27(4), 756-773. doi:10.1111/poms.12822Roy, S., Das, M., Ali, S. M., Raihan, A. S., Paul, S. K., & Kabir, G. (2020). Evaluating strategies for environmental sustainability in a supply chain of an emerging economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 262, 121389. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121389Morais, D. O. C., & Silvestre, B. S. (2018). Advancing social sustainability in supply chain management: Lessons from multiple case studies in an emerging economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 199, 222-235. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.097Stindt, D. (2017). A generic planning approach for sustainable supply chain management - How to integrate concepts and methods to address the issues of sustainability? Journal of Cleaner Production, 153, 146-163. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.126MOSLEMIPOUR, G., LEE, T. S., & LOONG, Y. T. (2017). Performance Analysis of Intelligent Robust Facility Layout Design. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 30(2), 407-418. doi:10.1007/s10033-017-0073-9Emami, S., & S. Nookabadi, A. (2013). Managing a new multi-objective model for the dynamic facility layout problem. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 68(9-12), 2215-2228. doi:10.1007/s00170-013-4820-5Al Hawarneh, A., Bendak, S., & Ghanim, F. (2019). Dynamic facilities planning model for large scale construction projects. Automation in Construction, 98, 72-89. doi:10.1016/j.autcon.2018.11.021Pournaderi, N., Ghezavati, V. R., & Mozafari, M. (2019). Developing a mathematical model for the dynamic facility layout problem considering material handling system and optimizing it using cloud theory-based simulated annealing algorithm. SN Applied Sciences, 1(8). doi:10.1007/s42452-019-0865-xTuranoğlu, B., & Akkaya, G. (2018). A new hybrid heuristic algorithm based on bacterial foraging optimization for the dynamic facility layout problem. Expert Systems with Applications, 98, 93-104. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2018.01.011Moslemipour, G., Lee, T. S., & Rilling, D. (2011). A review of intelligent approaches for designing dynamic and robust layouts in flexible manufacturing systems. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 60(1-4), 11-27. doi:10.1007/s00170-011-3614-xTebaldi, L., Bigliardi, B., & Bottani, E. (2018). Sustainable Supply Chain and Innovation: A Review of the Recent Literature. Sustainability, 10(11), 3946. doi:10.3390/su10113946Tseng, M.-L., Islam, M. S., Karia, N., Fauzi, F. A., & Afrin, S. (2019). A literature review on green supply chain management: Trends and future challenges. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 141, 145-162. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.10.009Ghobakhloo, M. (2020). Industry 4.0, digitization, and opportunities for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119869. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119869Boar, A., Bastida, R., & Marimon, F. (2020). A Systematic Literature Review. Relationships between the Sharing Economy, Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability, 12(17), 6744. doi:10.3390/su12176744Novais, L., Maqueira, J. M., & Ortiz-Bas, Á. (2019). A systematic literature review of cloud computing use in supply chain integration. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 129, 296-314. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2019.01.056Masi, D., Day, S., & Godsell, J. (2017). Supply Chain Configurations in the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 9(9), 1602. doi:10.3390/su9091602Zavala-Alcívar, A., Verdecho, M.-J., & Alfaro-Saiz, J.-J. (2020). A Conceptual Framework to Manage Resilience and Increase Sustainability in the Supply Chain. Sustainability, 12(16), 6300. doi:10.3390/su12166300Li, K., Rollins, J., & Yan, E. (2017). Web of Science use in published research and review papers 1997–2017: a selective, dynamic, cross-domain, content-based analysis. Scientometrics, 115(1), 1-20. doi:10.1007/s11192-017-2622-5Kulturel-Konak, S., & Konak, A. (2014). A large-scale hybrid simulated annealing algorithm for cyclic facility layout problems. Engineering Optimization, 47(7), 963-978. doi:10.1080/0305215x.2014.933825Madhusudanan Pillai, V., Hunagund, I. B., & Krishnan, K. K. (2011). Design of robust layout for Dynamic Plant Layout Problems. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 61(3), 813-823. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2011.05.014Peng, Y., Zeng, T., Fan, L., Han, Y., & Xia, B. (2018). An Improved Genetic Algorithm Based Robust Approach for Stochastic Dynamic Facility Layout Problem. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2018, 1-8. doi:10.1155/2018/1529058McKendall, A. R., & Hakobyan, A. (2010). Heuristics for the dynamic facility layout problem with unequal-area departments. European Journal of Operational Research, 201(1), 171-182. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2009.02.028Yang, C.-L., Chuang, S.-P., & Hsu, T.-S. (2010). A genetic algorithm for dynamic facility planning in job shop manufacturing. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 52(1-4), 303-309. doi:10.1007/s00170-010-2733-0Abedzadeh, M., Mazinani, M., Moradinasab, N., & Roghanian, E. (2012). Parallel variable neighborhood search for solving fuzzy multi-objective dynamic facility layout problem. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 65(1-4), 197-211. doi:10.1007/s00170-012-4160-xGuan, X., Dai, X., Qiu, B., & Li, J. (2012). A revised electromagnetism-like mechanism for layout design of reconfigurable manufacturing system. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 63(1), 98-108. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2012.01.016Jolai, F., Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, R., & Taghipour, M. (2012). A multi-objective particle swarm optimisation algorithm for unequal sized dynamic facility layout problem with pickup/drop-off locations. International Journal of Production Research, 50(15), 4279-4293. doi:10.1080/00207543.2011.613863Kia, R., Baboli, A., Javadian, N., Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, R., Kazemi, M., & Khorrami, J. (2012). Solving a group layout design model of a dynamic cellular manufacturing system with alternative process routings, lot splitting and flexible reconfiguration by simulated annealing. Computers & Operations Research, 39(11), 2642-2658. doi:10.1016/j.cor.2012.01.012McKendall, A. R., & Liu, W.-H. (2012). New Tabu search heuristics for the dynamic facility layout problem. International Journal of Production Research, 50(3), 867-878. doi:10.1080/00207543.2010.545446Hosseini-Nasab, H., & Emami, L. (2013). A hybrid particle swarm optimisation for dynamic facility layout problem. International Journal of Production Research, 51(14), 4325-4335. doi:10.1080/00207543.2013.774486Kaveh, M., Dalfard, V. M., & Amiri, S. (2013). A new intelligent algorithm for dynamic facility layout problem in state of fuzzy constraints. Neural Computing and Applications, 24(5), 1179-1190. doi:10.1007/s00521-013-1339-5KIA, R., JAVADIAN, N., PAYDAR, M. M., & SAIDI-MEHRABAD, M. (2013). A SIMULATED ANNEALING FOR INTRA-CELL LAYOUT DESIGN OF DYNAMIC CELLULAR MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS WITH ROUTE SELECTION, PURCHASING MACHINES AND CELL RECONFIGURATION. Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research, 30(04), 1350004. doi:10.1142/s0217595913500048Mazinani, M., Abedzadeh, M., & Mohebali, N. (2012). Dynamic facility layout problem based on flexible bay structure and solving by genetic algorithm. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 65(5-8), 929-943. doi:10.1007/s00170-012-4229-6Samarghandi, H., Taabayan, P., & Behroozi, M. (2013). Metaheuristics for fuzzy dynamic facility layout problem with unequal area constraints and closeness ratings. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 67(9-12), 2701-2715. doi:10.1007/s00170-012-4685-zYu-Hsin Chen, G. (2013). A new data structure of solution representation in hybrid ant colony optimization for large dynamic facility layout problems. International Journal of Production Economics, 142(2), 362-371. doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2012.12.012Bozorgi, N., Abedzadeh, M., & Zeinali, M. (2014). Tabu search heuristic for efficiency of dynamic facility layout problem. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 77(1-4), 689-703. doi:10.1007/s00170-014-6460-9CHEN, G. Y.-H., & LO, J.-C. (2014). DYNAMIC FACILITY LAYOUT WITH MULTI-OBJECTIVES. Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research, 31(04), 1450027. doi:10.1142/s0217595914500274Hosseini, S., Khaled, A. A., & Vadlamani, S. (2014). Hybrid imperialist competitive algorithm, variable neighborhood search, and simulated annealing for dynamic facility layout problem. Neural Computing and Applications, 25(7-8), 1871-1885. doi:10.1007/s00521-014-1678-xKia, R., Khaksar-Haghani, F., Javadian, N., & Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, R. (2014). Solving a multi-floor layout design model of a dynamic cellular manufacturing system by an efficient genetic algorithm. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 33(1), 218-232. doi:10.1016/j.jmsy.2013.12.005Nematian, J. (2014). A robust single row facility layout problem with fuzzy random variables. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 72(1-4), 255-267. doi:10.1007/s00170-013-5564-yPourvaziri, H., & Naderi, B. (2014). A hybrid multi-population genetic algorithm for the dynamic facility layout problem. Applied Soft Computing, 24, 457-469. doi:10.1016/j.asoc.2014.06.051Derakhshan Asl, A., & Wong, K. Y. (2015). Solving unequal-area static and dynamic facility layout problems using modified particle swarm optimization. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 28(6), 1317-1336. doi:10.1007/s10845-015-1053-5Li, L., Li, C., Ma, H., & Tang, Y. (2015). An Optimization Method for the Remanufacturing Dynamic Facility Layout Problem with Uncertainties. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2015, 1-11. doi:10.1155/2015/685408Ulutas, B., & Islier, A. A. (2015). Dynamic facility layout problem in footwear industry. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 36, 55-61. doi:10.1016/j.jmsy.2015.03.004Zarea Fazlelahi, F., Pournader, M., Gharakhani, M., & Sadjadi, S. J. (2016). A robust approach to design a single facility layout plan in dynamic manufacturing environments using a permutation-based genetic algorithm. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 230(12), 2264-2274. doi:10.1177/0954405415615728Hosseini, S. S., & Seifbarghy, M. (2016). A novel meta-heuristic algorithm for multi-objective dynamic facility layout problem. RAIRO - Operations Research, 50(4-5), 869-890. doi:10.1051/ro/2016057Pourvaziri, H., & Pierreval, H. (2017). Dynamic facility layout problem based on open queuing network theory. European Journal of Operational Research, 259(2), 538-553. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2016.11.011Tayal, A., & Singh, S. P. (2016). Integrating big data analytic and hybrid firefly-chaotic simulated annealing approach for facility layout problem. Annals of Operations Research, 270(1-2), 489-514. doi:10.1007/s10479-016-2237-xKumar, R., & Singh, S. P. (2017). A similarity score-based two-phase heuristic approach to solve the dynamic cellular facility layout for manufacturing systems. Engineering Optimization, 49(11), 1848-1867. doi:10.1080/0305215x.2016.1274205Liu, J., Wang, D., He, K., & Xue, Y. (2017). Combining Wang–Landau sampling algorithm and heuristics for solving the unequal-area dynamic facility layout problem. European Journal of Operational Research, 262(3), 1052-1063. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2017.04.002Vitayasak, S., Pongcharoen, P., & Hicks, C. (2017). A tool for solving stochastic dynamic facility layout problems with stochastic demand using either a Genetic Algorithm or modified Backtracking Search Algorithm. International Journal of Production Economics, 190, 146-157. doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2016.03.019Xiao, Y., Xie, Y., Kulturel-Konak, S., & Konak, A. (2017). A problem evolution algorithm with linear programming for the dynamic facility layout problem—A general layout formulation. Computers & Operations Research, 88, 187-207. doi:10.1016/j.cor.2017.06.025Li, J., Tan, X., & Li, J. (2018). Research on Dynamic Facility Layout Problem of Manufacturing Unit Considering Human Factors. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2018, 1-13. doi:10.1155/2018/6040561Vitayasak, S., & Pongcharoen, P. (2018). Performance improvement of Teaching-Learning-Based Optimisation for robust machine layout design. Expert Systems with Applications, 98, 129-152. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2018.01.005Wei, X., Yuan, S., & Ye, Y. (2019). Optimizing facility layout planning for reconfigurable manufacturing system based on chaos genetic algorithm. Production & Manufacturing Research, 7(1), 109-124. doi:10.1080/21693277.2019.1602486Kulturel-Konak, S. (2007). Approaches to uncertainties in facility layout problems: Perspectives at the beginning of the 21st Century. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 18(2), 273-284. doi:10.1007/s10845-007-0020-1Sharma, P., & Singhal, S. (2016). Implementation of fuzzy TOPSIS methodology in selection of procedural approach for facility layout planning. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 88(5-8), 1485-1493. doi:10.1007/s00170-016-8878-8Bukchin, Y., & Tzur, M. (2014). A new MILP approach for the facility process-layout design problem with rectangular and L/T shape departments. International Journal of Production Research, 52(24), 7339-7359. doi:10.1080/00207543.2014.930534Meller, R. D., Kirkizoglu, Z., & Chen, W. (2010). A new optimization model to support a bottom-up approach to facility design. Computers & Operations Research, 37(1), 42-49. doi:10.1016/j.cor.2009.03.018Feng, J., & Che, A. (2018). Novel integer linear programming models for the facility layout problem with fixed-size rectangular departments. Computers & Operations Research, 95, 163-171. doi:10.1016/j.cor.2018.03.013Allahyari, M. Z., & Azab, A. (2018). Mathematical modeling and multi-start search simulated annealing for unequal-area facility layout problem. Expert Systems with Applications, 91, 46-62. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2017.07.049Ahmadi, A., Pishvaee, M. S., & Akbari Jokar, M. R. (2017). A survey on multi-floor facility layout problems. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 107, 158-170. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2017.03.015Drira, A., Pierreval, H., & Hajri-Gabouj, S. (2007). Facility layout problems: A survey. Annual Reviews in Control, 31(2), 255-267. doi:10.1016/j.arcontrol.2007.04.001Grobelny, J., & Michalski, R. (2017). A novel version of simulated annealing based on linguistic patterns for solving facility layout problems. Knowledge-Based Systems, 124, 55-69. doi:10.1016/j.knosys.2017.03.001Hathhorn, J., Sisikoglu, E., & Sir, M. Y. (2013). A multi-objective mixed-integer programming model for a multi-floor facility layout. International Journal of Production Research, 51(14), 4223-4239. doi:10.1080/00207543.2012.75348

Facility layout problem: Bibliometric and benchmarking analysis

Facility layout problem is related to the location of departments in a facility area, with the aim of determining the most effective configuration. Researches based on different approaches have been published in the last six decades and, to prove the effectiveness of the results obtained, several instances have been developed. This paper presents a general overview on the extant literature on facility layout problems in order to identify the main research trends and propose future research questions. Firstly, in order to give the reader an overview of the literature, a bibliometric analysis is presented. Then, a clusterization of the papers referred to the main instances reported in literature was carried out in order to create a database that can be a useful tool in the benchmarking procedure for researchers that would approach this kind of problems

Diseño para operabilidad: Una revisión de enfoques y estrategias de solución

In the last decades the chemical engineering scientific research community has largely addressed the design-foroperability problem. Such an interest responds to the fact that the operability quality of a process is determined by design, becoming evident the convenience of considering operability issues in early design stages rather than later when the impact of modifications is less effective and more expensive. The necessity of integrating design and operability is dictated by the increasing complexity of the processes as result of progressively stringent economic, quality, safety and environmental constraints. Although the design-for-operability problem concerns to practically every technical discipline, it has achieved a particular identity within the chemical engineering field due to the economic magnitude of the involved processes. The work on design and analysis for operability in chemical engineering is really vast and a complete review in terms of papers is beyond the scope of this contribution. Instead, two major approaches will be addressed and those papers that in our belief had the most significance to the development of the field will be described in some detail.En las últimas décadas, la comunidad científica de ingeniería química ha abordado intensamente el problema de diseño-para-operabilidad. Tal interés responde al hecho de que la calidad operativa de un proceso esta determinada por diseño, resultando evidente la conveniencia de considerar aspectos operativos en las etapas tempranas del diseño y no luego, cuando el impacto de las modificaciones es menos efectivo y más costoso. La necesidad de integrar diseño y operabilidad esta dictada por la creciente complejidad de los procesos como resultado de las cada vez mayores restricciones económicas, de calidad de seguridad y medioambientales. Aunque el problema de diseño para operabilidad concierne a prácticamente toda disciplina, ha adquirido una identidad particular dentro de la ingeniería química debido a la magnitud económica de los procesos involucrados. El trabajo sobre diseño y análisis para operabilidad es realmente vasto y una revisión completa en términos de artículos supera los alcances de este trabajo. En su lugar, se discutirán los dos enfoques principales y aquellos artículos que en nuestra opinión han tenido mayor impacto para el desarrollo de la disciplina serán descriptos con cierto detalle.Fil: Blanco, Anibal Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Bandoni, Jose Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Intelligent systems in manufacturing: current developments and future prospects

Global competition and rapidly changing customer requirements are demanding increasing changes in manufacturing environments. Enterprises are required to constantly redesign their products and continuously reconfigure their manufacturing systems. Traditional approaches to manufacturing systems do not fully satisfy this new situation. Many authors have proposed that artificial intelligence will bring the flexibility and efficiency needed by manufacturing systems. This paper is a review of artificial intelligence techniques used in manufacturing systems. The paper first defines the components of a simplified intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS), the different Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to be considered and then shows how these AI techniques are used for the components of IMS

The right place at the right time: assisting spatio-temporal planning in construction

21st - 24th October 2003 This paper describes research carried out for requirements capture in the development of a computer-based decision support tool (VIRCON) for space-time scheduling and visualisation of construction tasks. The focus was on pre-tender work and involved interviews with construction planners. Both space-time scheduling and visualisation of tasks are largely informal/intuitive processes for planners. They form an important part of the planner\'s risk identification function. Planners tend to opt for a robust spatio-temporal schedule rather than an optimal one. They require decision support tools that are quick and easy to use rather than highly sophisticated. The research highlights the extent to which construction planning is a communicative and co-operative activity in addition to a complex problem-solving one. Questions arise about the cost to the client of non-involvement by the construction planner at the design stage, the costs of short pre-tender periods, inadequate design data and sub-optimal construction periods specified in tender documents

An Educational plant based on the Quadruple-tank process

7TH IFAC SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCES IN CONTROL. 21/06/2006. MADRIDThis paper presents an experimental tank system developed at the University ofSeville for process control education. This plant is based on the well known quadruple-tank process and some modifications have been done in order to obtain a wide rangeof applications. The quadruple tank process is a multivariable laboratory plant of inter-connected tanks that can be easily configured to exhibit the effect of multivariable zero(minimum and non-minimum phase) on the system behavior, as well as the effect of nonlinear dynamics, saturation, constraints, etc.In the real plant implementation, the original structure of the process has been modifiedto offer a wide variety of uses for both educational and research purposes.Thus, differentplants can be configured such as one single tank, two or three cascaded tanks, a mixtureprocess and hybrid dynamics. Moreover the dynamics parameters of each tank can be setup by tuning the cross-section of the outlet hole of the tank. Furthermore, the real plant hasbeen implemented using industrial instrumentation and a PLC for the low level control.Supervision and control of the plant is carried out in a computer by means of OPC (Olefor Process Control) which allows one to connect the plant with a wide range of controlprograms such as LabView, Matlab or industrial SCADA.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI 2004-0744