Optimization of block layout design problems with unequal areas: A comparison of MILP and MINLP optimization methods

The block layout design problem with unequal areas, which was originally formulated by Armour and Buffa in the early 1960s, is a fundamental optimization problem encountered in many manufacturing and service organizations. In this paper, we present a new modelling framework for effectively finding global optimal solutions for the block layout design problem with unequal areas. The most fundamental aspect of the framework consists of an exact representation of the underlying area restrictions. Our computational results consistently yield optimal solutions on several w m c f ©