Abstract: In the existing factory layout design, a scheme is obtained by making comparison among a set of candidate schemes. However, a better solution may be obtained if comparison is done with regard to an ideal scheme (either optimal or worst) that is not in the set of the candidate schemes. Based on this idea, an extended quantitative analysis method with ideal solutions as references is presented. A matter element analysis model by using the extension engineering theory is developed to implement this method. In the model, the matter elements of schemes, including the best and worst reference schemes are obtained by standardization and eigenvalue analysis of the evaluation indexes. Then, by determining the weights of the evaluation indexes, it can calculate the distance between a scheme and a reference scheme. In this way, a satisfactory scheme can be obtained. A case study from a machining factory is used to show the results obtained.

Key words: factory layout, extension engineering, matter element analysis