Elements of CRAFT

It reads the load summary (the number of loads carried between pairs of department), the costs for per unit load per unit distance for the handling of materials in between several pairs of department the existing layout of department the area requirements and the dimensions of the departments and constraints on the positioning of the departments.

1. It computes the centers of the departments and computes the several interdepartmental distances. The interdepartmental distances are not diagonal ever but only horizontal and vertical.
2. It computes the total material handling costs per unit period for the layout.
3. It creates paired and or three way exchanges between the different departmental location so as to produce a avid and improved layout pattern. The enhancement is in terms of reducing the total material handling costs. When making these exchanges', due regard to the area and physical dimension requirements of the individual department is paid.
4. The computer prints out the scaled layout pattern and the corresponding costs.