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facility-layout-optimizer

Facility layout optimization skill for material flow minimization and space utilization.

Installable skillMITBy a5c-aiUpdated Oct 28, 2026
INTENDED FOROpenClawInstall in a listed agent.

instructions.md

---
name: facility-layout-optimizer-a0044d3e4c3b
description: Facility layout optimization skill for material flow minimization and space utilization.
allowed-tools: Bash(*) Read Write Edit Glob Grep WebFetch
metadata:
  author: babysitter-sdk
  version: "1.0.0"
  category: supply-chain
  backlog-id: SK-IE-027
graph:
  domains: [domain:industrial-engineering]
  skillAreas: [skill-area:statistical-analysis, skill-area:organizational-design, skill-area:data-analysis]
  roles: [role:operations-analyst, role:research-engineer]
---

# facility-layout-optimizer

You are **facility-layout-optimizer** - a specialized skill for optimizing facility layouts to minimize material flow and maximize space utilization.

## Overview

This skill enables AI-powered facility layout optimization including:
- From-To chart analysis
- Activity relationship diagramming
- CRAFT and ALDEP algorithm implementation
- Block layout generation
- Aisle design and dimensioning
- Material flow visualization
- Space requirement calculation
- Layout alternative evaluation

## Capabilities

### 1. From-To Chart Analysis

```python
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

def create_from_to_chart(flow_data: list):
    """
    Create From-To chart from material flow data

    flow_data: list of (from_dept, to_dept, flow_volume, cost_per_unit)
    """
    # Get unique departments
    depts = set()
    for from_d, to_d, _, _ in flow_data:
        depts.add(from_d)
        depts.add(to_d)
    depts = sorted(list(depts))

    # Create matrix
    n = len(depts)
    flow_matrix = np.zeros((n, n))
    cost_matrix = np.zeros((n, n))

    dept_idx = {d: i for i, d in enumerate(depts)}

    for from_d, to_d, flow, cost in flow_data:
        i, j = dept_idx[from_d], dept_idx[to_d]
        flow_matrix[i, j] = flow
        cost_matrix[i, j] = cost

    # Calculate weighted flow
    weighted_flow = flow_matrix * cost_matrix

    return {
        "departments": depts,
        "flow_matrix": pd.DataFrame(flow_matrix, index=depts, columns=depts),
        "cost_matrix": pd.DataFrame(cost_matrix, index=depts, columns=depts),
        "weighted_flow": pd.DataFrame(weighted_flow, index=depts, columns=depts),
        "total_flow": flow_matrix.sum(),
        "total_weighted_flow": weighted_flow.sum()
    }
```

### 2. Activity Relationship Diagram

```python
from dataclasses import dataclass
from enum import Enum

class Closeness(Enum):
    A = "Absolutely necessary"
    E = "Especially important"
    I = "Important"
    O = "Ordinary"
    U = "Unimportant"
    X = "Undesirable"

@dataclass
class RelationshipEntry:
    dept1: str
    dept2: str
    closeness: Closeness
    reason: str

def create_relationship_chart(relationships: list):
    """
    Create Activity Relationship Chart (REL chart)
    """
    # Extract departments
    depts = set()
    for r in relationships:
        depts.add(r.dept1)
        depts.add(r.dept2)
    depts = sorted(list(depts))

    # Create relationship matrix
    n = len(depts)
    rel_matrix = {}

    for r in relationships:
        key = (r.dept1, r.dept2) if r.dept1 < r.dept2 else (r.dept2, r.dept1)
        rel_matrix[key] = {
            "closeness": r.closeness.name,
            "reason": r.reason
        }

    # Closeness score for layout optimization
    closeness_scores = {
        'A': 64, 'E': 16, 'I': 4, 'O': 1, 'U': 0, 'X': -64
    }

    # Create numeric matrix for algorithms
    score_matrix = np.zeros((n, n))
    dept_idx = {d: i for i, d in enumerate(depts)}

    for (d1, d2), rel in rel_matrix.items():
        i, j = dept_idx[d1], dept_idx[d2]
        score = closeness_scores[rel['closeness']]
        score_matrix[i, j] = score
        score_matrix[j, i] = score

    return {
        "departments": depts,
        "relationships": rel_matrix,
        "score_matrix": pd.DataFrame(score_matrix, index=depts, columns=depts),
        "summary": {
            "total_relationships": len(relationships),
            "A_count": sum(1 for r in relationships if r.closeness == Closeness.A),
            "X_count": sum(1 for r in relationships if r.closeness == Closeness.X)
        }
    }
```

### 3. CRAFT Algorithm

```python
def craft_algorithm(initial_layout: np.ndarray, flow_matrix: np.ndarray,
                   distance_matrix_func, max_iterations: int = 100):
    """
    CRAFT (Computerized Relative Allocation of Facilities Technique)

    Improvement algorithm - starts with initial layout and iteratively improves
    """
    n = len(flow_matrix)
    current_layout = initial_layout.copy()

    def calculate_cost(layout, flow, dist_func):
        total_cost = 0
        for i in range(n):
            for j in range(n):
                if i != j:
                    loc_i = np.argwhere(layout == i)[0]
                    loc_j = np.argwhere(layout == j)[0]
                    dist = dist_func(loc_i, loc_j)
                    total_cost += flow[i, j] * dist
        return total_cost

    current_cost = calculate_cost(current_layout, flow_matrix, distance_matrix_func)
    iteration = 0
    improvement_history = [{"iteration": 0, "cost": current_cost}]

    while iteration < max_iterations:
        best_swap = None
        best_cost = current_cost

        # Try all pairwise exchanges
        for i in range(n):
            for j in range(i + 1, n):
                # Swap departments i and j
                test_layout = current_layout.copy()
                pos_i = np.argwhere(test_layout == i)[0]
                pos_j = np.argwhere(test_layout == j)[0]
                test_layout[tuple(pos_i)] = j
                test_layout[tuple(pos_j)] = i

                test_cost = calculate_cost(test_layout, flow_matrix, distance_matrix_func)

                if test_cost < best_cost:
                    best_cost = test_cost
                    best_swap = (i, j)

        if best_swap is None:
            break  # No improvement found

        # Apply best swap
        i, j = best_swap
        pos_i = np.argwhere(current_layout == i)[0]
        pos_j = np.argwhere(current_layout == j)[0]
        current_layout[tuple(pos_i)] = j
        current_layout[tuple(pos_j)] = i
        current_cost = best_cost
        iteration += 1

        improvement_history.append({
            "iteration": iteration,
            "swap": best_swap,
            "cost": current_cost
        })

    return {
        "final_layout": current_layout,
        "final_cost": current_cost,
        "iterations": iteration,
        "improvement_history": improvement_history,
        "improvement_percent": (improvement_history[0]['cost'] - current_cost) /
                              improvement_history[0]['cost'] * 100
    }
```

### 4. Block Layout Generation

```python
def generate_block_layout(departments: list, space_requirements: dict,
                         facility_dimensions: tuple, rel_chart: dict):
    """
    Generate block layout from space requirements
    """
    width, height = facility_dimensions
    total_space = width * height

    # Calculate space allocation
    total_required = sum(space_requirements.values())

    layouts = []

    # Simple strip-based layout
    x_pos = 0
    y_pos = 0
    max_height_in_row = 0

    for dept in departments:
        required = space_requirements.get(dept, 100)
        # Calculate block dimensions (roughly square)
        block_width = np.sqrt(required)
        block_height = required / block_width

        if x_pos + block_width > width:
            # Move to next row
            x_pos = 0
            y_pos += max_height_in_row
            max_height_in_row = 0

        layouts.append({
            "department": dept,
            "x": x_pos,
            "y": y_pos,
            "width": block_width,
            "height": block_height,
            "area": required
        })

        x_pos += block_width
        max_height_in_row = max(max_height_in_row, block_height)

    return {
        "blocks": layouts,
        "facility_dimensions": facility_dimensions,
        "total_space_used": sum(b['area'] for b in layouts),
        "utilization": sum(b['area'] for b in layouts) / total_space * 100
    }
```

### 5. Layout Evaluation

```python
def evaluate_layout(layout: list, flow_data: dict, rel_chart: dict):
    """
    Evaluate layout quality
    """
    # Calculate centroids
    centroids = {}
    for block in layout:
        centroids[block['department']] = (
            block['x'] + block['width'] / 2,
            block['y'] + block['height'] / 2
        )

    # Calculate total material handling cost
    def euclidean_dist(c1, c2):
        return np.sqrt((c1[0] - c2[0])**2 + (c1[1] - c2[1])**2)

    def rectilinear_dist(c1, c2):
        return abs(c1[0] - c2[0]) + abs(c1[1] - c2[1])

    total_flow_cost = 0
    flow_matrix = flow_data.get('flow_matrix', pd.DataFrame())

    for dept1 in centroids:
        for dept2 in centroids:
            if dept1 != dept2 and dept1 in flow_matrix.index and dept2 in flow_matrix.columns:
                flow = flow_matrix.loc[dept1, dept2]
                dist = rectilinear_dist(centroids[dept1], centroids[dept2])
                total_flow_cost += flow * dist

    # Check relationship satisfaction
    rel_score = 0
    score_matrix = rel_chart.get('score_matrix', pd.DataFrame())

    for dept1 in centroids:
        for dept2 in centroids:
            if dept1 < dept2 and dept1 in score_matrix.index:
                target_score = score_matrix.loc[dept1, dept2]
                dist = rectilinear_dist(centroids[dept1], centroids[dept2])
                # Adjacent if distance < threshold
                is_adjacent = dist < 50  # Threshold
                if target_score > 0 and is_adjacent:
                    rel_score += target_score
                elif target_score < 0 and not is_adjacent:
                    rel_score -= target_score  # Good that they're apart

    # Space utilization
    total_area = max(b['x'] + b['width'] for b in layout) * \
                 max(b['y'] + b['height'] for b in layout)
    used_area = sum(b['area'] for b in layout)

    return {
        "flow_cost": total_flow_cost,
        "relationship_score": rel_score,
        "space_utilization": used_area / total_area * 100,
        "adjacency_satisfaction": rel_score / (len(centroids) * (len(centroids) - 1) / 2),
        "metrics": {
            "total_departments": len(layout),
            "total_area": total_area,
            "used_area": used_area
        }
    }
```

### 6. Aisle Design

```python
def design_aisles(layout: list, traffic_data: dict):
    """
    Design aisle system for layout
    """
    aisles = []

    # Main aisle (runs length of facility)
    main_width = traffic_data.get('main_aisle_width', 12)  # feet
    aisles.append({
        "type": "main",
        "width": main_width,
        "orientation": "horizontal",
        "y_position": max(b['y'] + b['height'] for b in layout) / 2
    })

    # Cross aisles
    cross_width = traffic_data.get('cross_aisle_width', 8)
    num_cross = traffic_data.get('num_cross_aisles', 2)
    facility_width = max(b['x'] + b['width'] for b in layout)

    for i in range(num_cross):
        aisles.append({
            "type": "cross",
            "width": cross_width,
            "orientation": "vertical",
            "x_position": facility_width * (i + 1) / (num_cross + 1)
        })

    # Calculate aisle area
    main_length = facility_width
    cross_length = max(b['y'] + b['height'] for b in layout)

    total_aisle_area = (main_width * main_length +
                       num_cross * cross_width * cross_length)

    return {
        "aisles": aisles,
        "total_aisle_area": total_aisle_area,
        "aisle_percentage": total_aisle_area /
                           (facility_width * cross_length) * 100
    }
```

## Process Integration

This skill integrates with the following processes:
- `warehouse-layout-slotting-optimization.js`
- `workstation-design-optimization.js`

## Output Format

```json
{
  "layout": {
    "blocks": [
      {"department": "Receiving", "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 50, "height": 40},
      {"department": "Storage", "x": 50, "y": 0, "width": 100, "height": 60}
    ]
  },
  "evaluation": {
    "flow_cost": 15420,
    "relationship_score": 85,
    "space_utilization": 78
  },
  "aisles": {
    "total_area": 1200,
    "percentage": 12
  },
  "recommendations": [
    "Swap Shipping and QC to reduce material handling"
  ]
}
```

## Best Practices

1. **Start with relationships** - Define closeness requirements
2. **Quantify flows** - Use actual material handling data
3. **Consider expansion** - Plan for growth
4. **Safety first** - Emergency egress, hazard separation
5. **Validate with users** - Operations input essential
6. **Compare alternatives** - Evaluate multiple options

## Constraints

- Fixed building constraints
- Column locations
- Utility access points
- Building codes and regulations
- Budget limitations

Discuss this resource

Platform guidance

Imported from the listed AgentSkill.sh category. Complete supplied package files and notices are retained. Required external tools and credentials are not installed. No bundled code was executed during import. Individual agent task behavior has not been tested.