A Hybrid Method Integrating a Discrete Differential Evolution Algorithm with Tabu Search Algorithm for the Quadratic Assignment Problem: A New Approach for Locating Hospital Departments

The facility layout problem (FLP) is a very important class of NP-hard problems in operations research that deals with the optimal assignment facilities to minimize transportation costs. quadratic (QAP) can model FLP effectively. One FLPs hospital aims place comprehensive clinics, laboratories, and radiology units within predefined boundaries way minimizes cost movement patients healthcare personnel. We are going develop hybrid method based on discrete differential evolution (DDE) algorithm for solving QAP. In existing DDE algorithms, certain issues such as premature convergence, stagnation, exploitation mechanism have not been properly addressed. this study, we first aim discover make current worse identify best solution problem, then propose (HDDETS) by combining tabu search (TS) algorithms enhance algorithm. Then, performance proposed HDDETS evaluated implementing benchmark instances from QAPLIB website comparing TS instances. It found has better than both where obtained 42 best-known solutions 56 instances, while 15 18 out respectively. Finally, apply find distributions advisory clinics inside Azadi Hospital Iraq total travel distance when they move among these clinics. Our application shows could distribution hospital’s rooms, which modeled QAP, reduced traveled patients.