Integration of process planning and scheduling using chaotic particle swarm optimization algorithm

Process planning and scheduling are two of the most important manufacturing functions traditionally performed separately and sequentially. These functions being complementary and interrelated, their integration is essential for the optimal utilization of manufacturing resources. Such integration is also significant for improving the performance of the modern manufacturing system. A variety of alternative manufacturing resources (machine tools, cutting tools, tool access directions, etc.) causes integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) problem to be strongly NP-hard (non deterministic polynomial) in terms of combinatorial optimization. Therefore, an optimal solution for the problem is searched in a vast search space. In order to explore the search space comprehensively and avoid being trapped into local optima, this paper focuses on using the method based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm and chaos theory (cPSO). The initial solutions for the IPPS problem are presented in the form of the particles of cPSO algorithm. The particle encoding/decoding scheme is also proposed in this paper. Flexible process and scheduling plans are presented using AND/OR network and five flexibility types: machine, tool, tool access direction (TAD), process, and sequence flexibility. Optimal process plans are obtained by multi-objective optimization of production time and production cost. On the other hand, optimal scheduling plans are generated based on three objective functions: makespan, balanced level of machine utilization, and mean flow time. The proposed cPSO algorithm is implemented in Matlab environment and verified extensively using five experimental studies. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA) based approach, and hybrid algorithm. Moreover, the scheduling plans obtained by the proposed methodology are additionally tested by Khepera II mobile robot using a laboratory model of manufacturing environment.     

求解IPPS顺序柔性调度问题的模型与集成型调度算法研究

针对工艺规划与调度集成(integrated process planning and scheduling, IPPS)问题中的顺序柔性调度问题,提出了基于简单顺序关系的顺序柔性描述模型及调度模型,并改进遗传算法设计了集成型的顺序柔性调度算法。染色体编码同时采用简单顺序关系编码和基于工序的编码,并为两种编码分别设计了多种交叉和变异操作。为避免遗传算子产生违背工序顺序优先关系的不可行解,提出了顺序约束修正策略;针对遗传算法易过早收敛的缺陷,设计了自适应调节变量以强化种群多样性,并引入变邻域搜索算法改变解的搜索邻域,进一步搜索最优调度方案。三种不同规模的实验仿真验证了问题描述模型及调度算法的有效性。     

Applications of particle swarm optimisation in integrated process planning and scheduling

Integration of process planning and scheduling (IPPS) is an important research issue to achieve manufacturing planning optimisation. In both process planning and scheduling, vast search spaces and complex technical constraints are significant barriers to the effectiveness of the processes. In this paper, the IPPS problem has been developed as a combinatorial optimisation model, and a modern evolutionary algorithm, i.e., the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm, has been modified and applied to solve it effectively. Initial solutions are formed and encoded into particles of the PSO algorithm. The particles “fly” intelligently in the search space to achieve the best sequence according to the optimisation strategies of the PSO algorithm. Meanwhile, to explore the search space comprehensively and to avoid being trapped into local optima, several new operators have been developed to improve the particles’ movements to form a modified PSO algorithm. Case studies have been conducted to verify the performance and efficiency of the modified PSO algorithm. A comparison has been made between the result of the modified PSO algorithm and the previous results generated by the genetic algorithm (GA) and the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, respectively, and the different characteristics of the three algorithms are indicated. Case studies show that the developed PSO can generate satisfactory results in both applications.     

Application of game theory based hybrid algorithm for multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling

Process planning and scheduling are two key sub-functions in the manufacturing system. Traditionally, process planning and scheduling were regarded as the separate tasks to perform sequentially. Recently, a significant trend is to integrate process planning and scheduling more tightly to achieve greater performance and higher productivity of the manufacturing system. Because of the complementarity of process planning and scheduling, and the multiple objectives requirement from the real-world production, this research focuses on the multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) problem. In this research, the Nash equilibrium in game theory based approach has been used to deal with the multiple objectives. And a hybrid algorithm has been developed to optimize the IPPS problem. Experimental studies have been used to test the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that the developed approach is a promising and very effective method on the research of the multi-objective IPPS problem.     

一种改进的求解柔性作业车间调度问题的灰狼算法

柔性作业车间调度问题是智能制造领域的一类典型调度问题,它是制造流程规划和管理中最关键的环节之一,有效的求解方法对提高生产效率具有重要的现实意义。本文基于经典灰狼算法进行改进,以优化最大完工时间为目标,提出一种改进的灰狼算法来求解柔性作业车间调度问题。算法首先采用基于权值的编码形式,实现对经典狼群算法中连续性编码的离散化;其次在迭代优化过程中加入随机游走策略,以增强局部搜索能力;然后在种群更新过程中加入尾部淘汰策略,在避免局部优化的同时增加种群多样性,合理扩大算法的广度搜索范围。在标准算例上的仿真实验结果表明,改进的灰狼算法在求解FJSP时比经典灰狼算法在寻优能力方面具有明显的优势,相比其它智能优化算法,本文所提算法在每种算例上均具有更好的优化性能。     

基于遗传算法的作业车间调度优化求解方法

针对 job shop调度问题 ,提出了一种遗传算法编码方法和解码方法。该方法根据问题的特点 ,采用一种按工序用不同编号进行的染色体编码方案 ,并采用矩阵解码方法。此编码与调度方案一一对应 ,并且该编码方案有多种交叉操作算子可用 ,无须专门设计算子。算例计算结果表明 ,该算法是有效的 ,适用于解决 job shop调度问题 ,通过比较 ,该遗传算法优化 job shop调度操作简单并且收敛速度快。     

An energy-efficient multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling for a flexible job-shop-type remanufacturing system

This study considers an energy-efficient multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) problem for the remanufacturing system (RMS) integrating parallel disassembly, flexible job-shop-type reprocessing, and parallel reassembly shops with the goal of realizing the minimization of both energy cost and completion time. The multi-objective mixed-integer programming model is first constructed with consideration of operation, sequence, and process flexibilities in the RMS for identifying this scheduling issue mathematically. An improved spider monkey optimization algorithm (ISMO) with a global criterion multi-objective method is developed to address the proposed problem. By embedding dynamic adaptive inertia weight and various local neighborhood searching strategies in ISMO, its global and local search capabilities are improved significantly. A set of simulation experiments are systematically designed and conducted for evaluating ISMO’s performance. Finally, a case study from the real-world remanufacturing scenario is adopted to assess ISMO’s ability to handle the realistic remanufacturing IPPS problem. Simulation results demonstrate ISMO’s superiority compared to other baseline algorithms when tackling the energy-aware IPPS problem regarding solution accuracy, computing speed, solution stability, and convergence behavior. Meanwhile, the case study results validate ISMO’s supremacy in solving the real-world remanufacturing IPPS problem with relatively lower energy usage and time cost.     

基于改进蝙蝠算法和三次样条插值的机器人路径规划

为更好地解决移动机器人路径规划问题, 改进蝙蝠算法的寻优性能, 拓展其应用领域, 提出了一种具有反向学习和正切随机探索机制的蝙蝠算法. 在全局搜索阶段的位置更新中引入动态扰动系数, 提高算法全局搜索能力; 在局部搜索阶段, 融入正切随机探索机制, 增强算法局部寻优的策略性, 避免算法陷入局部极值. 同时, 加入反向学习选择策略, 进一步平衡蝙蝠种群多样性和算法局部开采能力, 提高算法的收敛精度. 然后, 把改进算法与三次样条插值方法相结合去求解机器人全局路径规划问题, 定义了基于路径结点的编码方式, 构造了绕避障碍求解最短路径的方法和适应度函数. 最后, 在简单和复杂障碍环境下分别对单机器人和多机器人系统进行了路径规划对比实验. 实验结果表明, 改进后算法无论在最优解还是平均解方面都要优于其他几种对比算法, 对于求解机器人全局路径规划问题具有较好的可行性和有效性.     

带工序跳跃的绿色混合流水车间机器与AGV联合调度

针对带工序跳跃的绿色混合流水车间机器和自动引导车(AGV)联合调度问题,提出改进memetic algorithm(MA)以同时最小化最大完工时间和总能耗.首先,设计基于工序、机器和转速的三层编码策略,最大程度保证算法在整个解空间中搜索;然后,设计混合种群初始化方法以提高初始种群解的质量,同时设计交叉和变异算子以及两种基于问题的邻域搜索策略来平衡算法的全局搜索和局部搜索能力;最后,通过大量仿真实验验证MA算法求解该问题的有效性和优越性.     

混合灰狼优化算法求解柔性作业车间调度问题

将灰狼优化算法(GWO)用于柔性作业车间调度问题(FJSP),以优化最大完工时间为目标,提出一种混合灰狼优化算法(HGWO).首先,采用两段式编码方式,建立GWO连续空间与FJSP离散空间的映射关系;其次,设计种群初始化方法,保证算法初始解的质量;然后,嵌入一种变邻域搜索策略,加强算法的局部搜索能力,引入遗传算子,提升算法的全局探索能力;最后,通过实验数据验证HGWO算法在求解FJSP问题方面的有效性.     

求解区间数分布式流水线调度的混合离散果蝇优化算法

分布式调度是制造系统领域的前沿研究,而不确定调度问题的研究更具现实意义.针对不确定分布式置换流水线调度问题,采用区间数表示工序加工时间,以最小化区间最大完工时间为目标,利用问题特性在果蝇优化框架内提出一种混合离散果蝇优化算法.首先,通过改进启发式方法和随机方法混合初始化种群;然后,基于概率协同多搜索操作执行嗅觉搜索.为了平衡算法的全局探索与局部开发能力,设计基于学习机制的双种群协同搜索环节.为了进一步提升种群性能,针对优良解设计基于切换机制的双模式局部搜索.基于大量算例的仿真结果与统计对比,表明所提出算法能更有效求解区间数分布式流水线调度问题.     

An active learning genetic algorithm for integrated process planning and scheduling

In traditional approaches, process planning and scheduling are carried out sequentially, where scheduling is done separately after the process plan has been generated. However, the functions of these two systems are usually complementary. The traditional approach has become an obstacle to improve the productivity and responsiveness of the manufacturing system. If the two systems can be integrated more tightly, greater performance and higher productivity of a manufacturing system can be achieved. Therefore, the research on the integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) problem is necessary. In this paper, a new active learning genetic algorithm based method has been developed to facilitate the integration and optimization of these two systems. Experimental studies have been used to test the approach, and the comparisons have been made between this approach and some previous approaches to indicate the adaptability and superiority of the proposed approach. The experimental results show that the proposed approach is a promising and very effective method on the research of the IPPS problem.     

基于GA-PSO的天基预警系统资源调度方法

为解决天基预警系统中的卫星资源调度问题,从预警任务特点出发,在对预警任务进行分解的基础上,建立了资源调度模型．结合传统遗传算法（GA）和粒子群算法（PSO）的优点,采用一种混合遗传粒子群（GA-PSO）算法来求解资源调度问题．该算法在解决粒子编解码问题的前提下,将遗传算法的遗传算子应用于粒子群算法,改善了粒子群算法的寻优能力．实验结果表明,提出的算法能有效解决多目标探测时天基预警系统的资源调度问题,调度结果优于传统粒子群算法和遗传算法．     

改进蝙蝠算法柔性作业车间调度问题研究

针对柔性作业车间调度问题,提出了一种改进的离散蝙蝠算法。该算法采用双层编码序列方式,利用均衡机器负载分配策略和插入式解码方案初始化种群,同时设计了离散蝙蝠算法的速度、位置更新的相关算子和操作,引入了平衡调整因子改善算法搜索能力。通过案例测试并与其他算法比较,验证了改进的离散蝙蝠算法可以有效地求解柔性作业车间调度问题,并具有较高的精确度。     

A hybrid Jaya algorithm for solving flexible job shop scheduling problem considering multiple critical paths

As an extension of the classical job shop scheduling problem, flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is considered as a challenge in manufacturing systems for its complexity and flexibility. Meta-heuristic algorithms are shown effective in solving FJSP. However, the multiple critical paths issue, which has not been formally discussed in the existing literature, is discovered to be a primary obstacle for further optimization by meta-heuristics. In this paper, a hybrid Jaya algorithm integrated with Tabu search is proposed to solve FJSP for makespan minimization. Two Jaya operators are designed to improve solutions under a two-vector encoding scheme. During the local search phase, three approaches are proposed to deal with multiple critical paths and have been evaluated by experimental study and qualitative analyses. An incremental parameter setting strategy and a makespan estimation method are employed to speed up the searching process. The proposed algorithm is compared with several state-of-the-art algorithms on three well-known FJSP benchmark sets. Extensive experimental results suggest its superiority in both optimality and stability. Additionally, a real world scheduling problem, including six instances with different scales, is applied to further prove its ability in handling large-scale scheduling problems.     

多群体混合进化算法求解IPPS问题

针对工艺规划与调度集成（Integration of Process Planning and Scheduling, IPPS）问题求解复杂性,为提高求解效率,设计了包含探索种群,寻优种群和最优种群的多群体混合进化算法,通过运用混合遗传算法和基于聚类淘汰机制的差分进化算法分别更新探索种群中工艺链和加工顺序链,保持可行解多样性和差异性。然后利用克隆领域搜索算法完成寻优种群中可行解的克隆和领域搜索,进一步提高种群质量。最后按照精英保留策略更新最优种群获得全局最优解。并通过实例计算对比,结果显示算法搜索效率和求解质量均有明显改善,且稳定性较好,表明该算法求解IPPS问题的可行性及优越性。     

遗传算法求解多目标柔性Job-shop问题

本文描述了基于可变机器约束的多目标柔性Job-shop调度问题模型,并应用一种改进的遗传算法进行求解。我们采用了表示工序先后顺序及机器选择的二维编码方式,以多目标优化函数为度量,通过三种遗传操作扩展后代的多样性和算法的搜索空间。仿真结果验证了该算法能有效解决多目标优化问题。     

Integrated process planning and scheduling: an enhanced ant colony optimization heuristic with parameter tuning

This study develops an enhanced ant colony optimization (E-ACO) meta-heuristic to accomplish the integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) problem in the job-shop environment. The IPPS problem is represented by AND/OR graphs to implement the search-based algorithm, which aims at obtaining effective and near-optimal solutions in terms of makespan, job flow time and computation time taken. In accordance with the characteristics of the IPPS problem, the mechanism of ACO algorithm has been enhanced with several modifications, including quantification of convergence level, introduction of node-based pheromone, earliest finishing time-based strategy of determining the heuristic desirability, and oriented elitist pheromone deposit strategy. Using test cases with comprehensive consideration of manufacturing flexibilities, experiments are conducted to evaluate the approach, and to study the effects of algorithm parameters, with a general guideline for ACO parameter tuning for IPPS problems provided. The results show that with the specific modifications made on ACO algorithm, it is able to generate encouraging performance which outperforms many other meta-heuristics.     

求解带容量约束车辆路径问题的混合变邻域生物共栖搜索算法

针对带容量约束的车辆路径问题,提出一种混合变邻域生物共栖搜索算法.设计基于客户点优先序列及车辆参考点模拟信息的有序编码,该编码方案使生物共栖搜索算法可以参与CVRP的离散优化;为了提高算法的全局搜索能力,根据有序编码特点构造3种共栖搜索算子,扩大搜索空间;同时,结合变邻域搜索算法设计客户点重置、交换和2-OPT三种局部搜索策略,以提高解方案质量.算例验证分析表明,所提算法能够有效地解决容量约束车辆路径问题,求解质量优于所对比算法,具有可靠的全局稳定性.     

Employing subgroup evolution for irregular-shape nesting

This paper introduces a new method to solve the irregular-shape, full-rotation nesting problem by a genetic algorithm. Layout patterns are evolved in hierarchical subgroups to facilitate the search for an optimal solution in such a complex solution space. The genotype used in the genetic algorithm contains both the sequence and rotation for each shape, requiring new genetic operators to manipulate a multi-type genetic representation. A lower-left placement heuristic coupled with matrix encoding of the shapes and plate prevents overlap and constrains the solution space to valid solutions. This new method is able to efficiently search the solution space for large problems involving complex shapes with 360 degrees of freedom. The algorithm generates better solutions than previously published evolutionary methods.