This paper investigates the machine layout problem with a single-row flow path within an automated manufacturing system. The problem of layout design is a NP-complete optimization problem, which becomes complex when the number of machines tends to be large. For such a case, metaheuristic algorithms to solve the layout problem are considered. There are six Flow Line Analysis methods reported in the literature. Among these six methods two best methods are considered in this paper to get the seed sequence for the heuristics, one for unidirectional flow lines and another for bi-directional flow lines. In this paper, three hybrid algorithms, combining the Flow Line Analysis and Simulated Annealing, combining Flow Line Analysis and Genetic Algorithm and combining Flow Line Analysis, Genetic Algorithm and Simulated Annealing are proposed. The proposed algorithms are tested for quality by generating a wide variety of data sets. ©INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING.