Apparel manufacturing plants change the machine layout constantly to cope with small-quantity production over a good variety of styles. To further strengthen the automation of machine layout in the production line, we targeted on the special features of order-based manufacturing in this research and used the from-to charts, precedence diagrams and matrix to calculate on the moving distance of the cutting pieces and parts. We transformed the workflow and distance from both the storage area of cutting pieces and the temporary storage area for finished product to the workstation into a from-to matrix and a precedence matrix. From the manufacturing precedence relationship shown in the precedence diagram and the data of the distances between each and all machines in the workstation, we then established the fitness function and with a discussion over a practical example, we found the application of orderbased genetic algorithm can enhance the efficiency by 47.2% in terms of shortening the cutting pieces moving distance compared with the cases when no algorithm is being used. It is then proved that the application of orderbased genetic algorithm can find speedily the best order for machine layout, which shortens the pieces moving distance and enhances production efficiency.