Delft University of Technology
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Transport Technology / Logistic Engineering



H. Borsje Planning voor een optimaal ruimtegebruik bij BV Machinefabriek Figee. Integratie van ruimte in de capaciteitsplanning.
Masters thesis, Report 93.3.LT.4193, Transport Technology, Logistic Engineering.


As a result of an increased amount of orders BV Machinefabriek Figee has room problems on its working areas. As a consequence the internal transportation is hindered in many cases. Figee wants to limit these extra costs. By scheduling and planning of room on forehand a reduction of costs is expected.
During planning the use of room, space must be considered as a resource. Use of room during internal transportation must additionally be taken into account.

The characteristics, which are important for an optimal planning of room and how these can be implemented in a planning, are examined. Some articles about common planning problems and motion problems of robotics are used.

Space as a resource is mainly characterized by the use of room for activities that are finished and waiting for the next operation. These activities use room until the next activity starts. Room for internal transportation can be deterrained if location of origin as well as destination are known. This is also a problem. Another destination or even another origin must be located if internal transportation is not possible.

The planning package Micro Planner, which is presently used at Figee, is not capable for solving the problem. This also counts for many other planning packages which allocate resources more or less in the same manner.
A binairy integer programming model will take to much time to be solved.

A heuristic, which can be adapted for several constraints, is used as a basic for the planning process. This heuristic makes use of backtracking, so that it can come back on an former allocation. Search methods for fmding free locations and transportation paths can be implemented.

In planning, room can be best represented by the grid method, where room is divided into cells. Some search methods for finding transportation paths are described. The method that is most capable, should be studied later on. Also a method for allocation of locations to activities should be examined.
A part of the planning process is implemented with Borland Pascal 7.0.


Reports on Logistic Engineering (in Dutch)
Modified: 2000.04.03; logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl , TU Delft / 3mE / TT / LT.