Abstracts – Browse Results
Click on the titles below to expand the information about each abstract.
Viewing 1 results ...
Marasini, R (2002) An integrated simulation approach for realising efficient stockyard layouts: An application in the precast concrete products industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Teesside.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: genetic algorithms; optimisation; equipment; precast concrete; production planning; simulation
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.518726
- Abstract:
Precast concrete building products industry supplies 2000 to 3000 different concrete products to construction industry. The demand for the products is seasonal as the major construction work is carried out in summer. To account the seasonal demand, massive stock is built in winter for dispatch in summer. As large number of products are involved and the concrete products vary in size, weight, stacking methods and handling equipment, the management of space for the storage and dispatch of products offers a complex problem. The industry lacks proper methods and tools that advise management to manage the stockyard layout and space. To date production plans do not consider the storage space as a resource and its management is left to stockyard manager(s). As a result, the industry is experiencing space congestion, long throughput time for dispatch of products, queuing of dispatch vehicles (lorries) on the yard. It is estimated that a proper stockyard layout will reduce the cost of delivery of products by 5~10%. The aim of this research is to devise a stockyard layout modelling approach and to develop a computerised model that can advise management on stocking products in the yard. The objective of the model is to ensure fluency of stock, minimise loading time of dispatches and maximise efficiency of stock rotation through proper stockyard layout modelling approach. This research utilises knowledge-based layout generation and simulation based evaluation methodology to model and optimise the stockyard layout. The simulation model helps analyse "what-if" scenarios, and evaluate different layout, order picking and product allocation policies. Through evaluation of parameters such as cost, space utilisation, throughput time and vehicle waiting times, a suitable stockyard layout is selected for implementation. The simulation model is being developed using ARENA (SIMAN) a general-purpose simulation language. ILOG views and rules have been utilised to develop a layout design graphical user interface. Genetic algorithms have been considered to optimise the layout. MS Visual C++ has been utilised to integrate layout, simulation and optimisation component of the prototype model. The research identifies the storage space as a resource, integrates production and dispatch schedules to study the stockyard space behaviour. The knowledge rules developed through the review of literatures on layout design, and elicitation of knowledge from the industry practitioners' help design stockyard layouts. It is envisaged that the computerised prototype model will be a tool to develop and evaluate several layout scenarios with different product mixes, production planning policies, loading and dispatch policies and finally, a suitable stockyard layout will be selected for implementation.