A methodology for knowledge based decision support for facilities layout planning

The area of facilities layout planning contains a mix of specialized models in addition to a requirement for human experience and subjective judgments in the decision process. In this paper, we recognize that the task of choosing a suitable facilities layout planning model for a given problem is a non-trivial one, due to the unique requirements of individual situations, and the varying nature of the available models. To facilitate the selection of an appropriate model for facilities layout problems, we propose a methodology for the design of a knowledge based Decision Support System (DSS) which is calibrated with heuristics elicited from experienced layout planners. The rationale and structure of the model are discussed, as are its mode of usage and future research issues.