Hybrid tabu search and a truncated branch-and-bound for the unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem

We consider the problem of scheduling a number of jobs on a number of unrelated parallel machines in order to minimize the makespan. We develop three heuristic approaches, i.e., a genetic algorithm, a tabu search algorithm and a hybridization of these heuristics with a truncated branch-and-bound procedure. This hybridization is made in order to accelerate the search process to near-optimal solutions. The branch-and-bound procedure will check whether the solutions obtained by the meta-heuristics can be scheduled within a tight upper bound. We compare the performances of these heuristics on a standard dataset available in the literature. Moreover, the influence of the different heuristic parameters is examined as well. The computational experiments reveal that the hybrid heuristics are able to compete with the best known results from the literature.     

求解一类并行多机调度问题的混合启发式算法

该文研究了一类工件具有不同释放时间的并行多机调度问题，调度目标为使总流程时间最小。针对该类调度问题具有强NP—hard的特点，首先构造了的一种启发式算法，该算法能够在很短的时间内找到次优解。由于通常启发式算法会随着问题规模的扩大导致求解的质量有所下降，结合遗传算法的全局搜索能力，提出了一种混合启发式算法进一步改善解的质量。仿真结果表明该算法很好地结合了启发式算法和遗传算法的特点，能够在较短的时间内求解较大规模的调度问题，算法的计算量小，鲁棒性好。     

Hybrid heuristic search approach for deadlock-free scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems using Petri nets

Based on the Petri net models of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs), this paper focuses on deadlock-free scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing the makespan. Two hybrid heuristic search algorithms for solving such scheduling problems of FMSs are proposed. To avoid deadlocks, the deadlock control policy is embedded into heuristic search strategies. The proposed algorithms combine the heuristic best-first strategy with the controlled backtracking strategy based on the execution of the Petri nets. The scheduling problem is transformed into a heuristic search problem in the reachability graph of the Petri net, and a schedule is a transition sequence from the initial marking to the final marking in the reachability graph. By using the one-step look-ahead method in the deadlock control policy, the safety of a state in the reachability graph is checked, and hence, deadlock is avoided. Experimental results are provided and indicate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid heuristic search algorithms in solving deadlock-free scheduling problems of FMSs. Especially, the comparison against previous work shows that both new algorithms are promising in terms of solution quality and computing times.     

Minimizing makespan in permutation flow shop scheduling problems using a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm

This paper proposes a hybrid metaheuristic for the minimization of makespan in permutation flow shop scheduling problems. The solution approach is robust, fast, and simply structured, and comprises three components: an initial population generation method based on a greedy randomized constructive heuristic, a genetic algorithm (GA) for solution evolution, and a variable neighbourhood search (VNS) to improve the population. The hybridization of a GA with VNS, combining the advantages of these two individual components, is the key innovative aspect of the approach. Computational experiments on benchmark data sets demonstrate that the proposed hybrid metaheuristic reaches high-quality solutions in short computational times. Furthermore, it requires very few user-defined parameters, rendering it applicable to real-life flow shop scheduling problems.     

A hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm for optimization of crew scheduling

Crew scheduling problem is the problem of assigning crew members to the flights so that total cost is minimized while regulatory and legal restrictions are satisfied. The crew scheduling is an NP-hard constrained combinatorial optimization problem and hence, it cannot be exactly solved in a reasonable computational time. This paper presents a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm synchronized with a local search heuristic for solving the crew scheduling problem. Recent studies use genetic algorithm (GA) or ant colony optimization (ACO) to solve large scale crew scheduling problems. Furthermore, two other hybrid algorithms based on GA and ACO algorithms have been developed to solve the problem. Computational results show the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed hybrid PSO algorithm over other algorithms.     

Genetic algorithms for the optimal common due date assignment and the optimal scheduling policy in parallel machine earliness/tardiness scheduling problems

Earliness/tardiness scheduling problems with undetermined common due date which have wide application background in textile industry, mechanical industry, electronic industry and so on, are very important in the research fields such as industry engineering and CIMS. In this paper, a kind of genetic algorithm based on sectional code for minimizing the total cost of assignment of due date, earliness and tardiness in this kind of scheduling problem is proposed to determine the optimal common due date and the optimal scheduling policy for determining the job number and their processing order on each machine. Also, simulated annealing mechanism and the iterative heuristic fine-tuning operator are introduced into the genetic algorithm so as to construct three kinds of hybrid genetic algorithms with good performance. Numerical computational results focusing on the identical parallel machine scheduling problem and the general parallel machine scheduling problem shows that these algorithms outperform heuristic procedures, and fit for larger scale parallel machine earliness/tardiness scheduling problem. Moreover, with practical application data from one of the largest cotton colored weaving enterprises in China, numerical computational results show that these genetic algorithms are effective and robust, and that especially the performance of the hybrid genetic algorithm based on simulated annealing and the iterative heuristic fine-tuning operator is the best among them.     

Two-stage hybrid flow shop scheduling on parallel batching machines considering a job-dependent deteriorating effect and non-identical job sizes

In this paper, we investigate a specialized two-stage hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with parallel batching machines considering a job-dependent deteriorating effect and non-identical job sizes simultaneously. A novel concept of three-dimensional wasted volume based on the job normal processing time, job size, and job deteriorating rate is first proposed. Some structural properties, as well as a heuristic algorithm, are developed to solve the single parallel batching machine scheduling problem. Since the two-stage hybrid flow shop scheduling problem is NP-hard, a hybrid EDA-DE algorithm combining estimation of distribution algorithm (EDA) and differential evolution (DE) algorithm is proposed to tackle the studied problem. In addition, the Taguchi method of design of experiments (DOE) is implemented to tune the parameters of the EDA-DE. Finally, a series of computational experiments are carried out to compare the performance of the proposed hybrid EDA-DE algorithm and some recent existing algorithms from the literature, and the comparative results validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.     

Tsp-based scheduling in a batch-wise hybrid flow-shop

In the past few years, flexible production systems have allowed an extensive exploitation of new technologies, but have also led to new difficulties in production planning management science. The model presented in this paper extends the traditional HFS (hybrid flow-shop) scheduling problem to the case in which jobs are due to follow strict precedence constraints and batch assignment constraints and the parallel machines at a stage are served by a bottleneck machine. A variant of the well-known TSP problem is used to develop an efficient heuristic solution for the problem. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through a comparison with different heuristics traditionally used in HFS scheduling problems. Furthermore, a simple insertion heuristic based on the TSP model of the problem is tested. Finally, a MIP-based approach is also explored to provide the optimum solutions within much larger times for comparison.     

Direct shipping logistic planning for a hub-and-spoke network with given discrete intershipment times

This paper proposes a heuristic procedure to solve the problem of scheduling and routing shipments in a hybrid hub‐and‐spoke network, when a given set of feasible discrete intershipment times is given. The heuristic procedure may be used to assist in the cooperative operational planning of a physical goods network between shippers and logistics service provider, or to assist shippers in making logistics outsourcing decisions. The objective is to minimise the transportation and inventory holding costs. It is shown through a set of problem instances that this heuristic procedure provides better solutions than existing economic order quantity‐based approaches. Computational results are presented and discussed.     

A case study of scheduling storage tanks using a hybrid geneticalgorithm

This paper proposes the application of a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) for scheduling storage tanks. The proposed approach integrates GAs and heuristic rule-based techniques, decomposing the complex mixed-integer optimization problem into integer and real-number subproblems. The GA string considers the integer problem and the heuristic approach solves the real-number problems within the GA framework. The algorithm is demonstrated for three test scenarios of a water treatment facility at a port and has been found to be robust and to give a significantly better schedule than those generated using a random search and a heuristic-based approach     

具有准时制工艺要求的混合FLOWSHOP调度问题--实例研究

基于炼钢—连铸生产过程研究了具有ＪＩＴ工艺要求的混合ｆｌｏｗｓｈｏｐ调度问题,根据问题的特点,建立了批工件在车间中成组加工的数学模型,并提出求解最小化平均流程时间的两阶段启发式算法,针对实际生产数据的计算结果表明所提算法是快速有效的．     

A heuristic algorithm to minimize total weighted tardiness on a single machine with release times

This paper attempts to solve a single machine‐scheduling problem, in which the objective function is to minimize the total weighted tardiness with different release dates of jobs. To address this scheduling problem, a heuristic scheduling algorithm is presented. A mathematical programming formulation is also formulated to validate the performance of the heuristic scheduling algorithm proposed herein. Experimental results show that the proposed heuristic algorithm can solve this problem rapidly and accurately. Overall, this algorithm can find the optimal solutions for 2200 out of 2400 randomly generated problems (91.67%). For the most complicated 20 job cases, it requires less than 0.0016 s to obtain an ultimate or even optimal solution. This heuristic scheduling algorithm can therefore efficiently solve this kind of problem.     

基于总加权完成时间的可重入混合流水车间调度问题

研究以最小化总加权完成时间为目标的可重入混合流水车间调度问题(RHFS-TWC),并构建问题的整数规划模型.根据模型的特点,设计基于二维矩阵组的调度解编码方案,结合NEH启发式算法确定工件初始加工顺序,生成高质量初始调度解群.为避免算法陷入早熟及扩大解的搜索空间,给出IGA的遗传参数自适应调整策略,最终形成NEH-IGA融合求解策略.针对不同规模问题分别用传统GA、基于遗传参数自适应调整的IGA、NEH启发式、NEH-IGA算法进行仿真测试,仿真结果表明NEH启发式和遗传参数自适应动态调整策略的引入有效改善了原有GA的求解能力,NEH-IGA算法在求解RHFS-TWC问题方面优势明显.     

SOLVING THE OPEN SHOP SCHEDULING PROBLEM VIA A HYBRID GENETIC-VARIABLE NEIGHBORHOOD SEARCH ALGORITHM

In this article, a hybrid metaheuristic method for solving the open shop scheduling problem (OSSP) is proposed. The optimization criterion is the minimization of makespan and the solution method consists of four components: a randomized initial population generation, a heuristic solution included in the initial population acquired by a Nawaz-Enscore-Ham (NEH)-based heuristic for the flow shop scheduling problem, and two interconnected metaheuristic algorithms: a variable neighborhood search and a genetic algorithm. To our knowledge, this is the first hybrid application of genetic algorithm (GA) and variable neighborhood search (VNS) for the open shop scheduling problem. Computational experiments on benchmark data sets demonstrate that the proposed hybrid metaheuristic reaches a high quality solution in short computational times. Moreover, 12 new hard, large-scale open shop benchmark instances are proposed that simulate realistic industrial cases.     

A meta-heuristic approach to solve a JIT scheduling problem in hybrid flow shop

In this paper we address a hybrid flow shop scheduling problem considering the minimization of the sum of the total earliness and tardiness penalties. This problem is proven to be NP-hard, and consequently the development of heuristic and meta-heuristic approaches to solve it is well justified. So, we propose an ant colony optimization method to deal with this problem. Our proposed method has several features, including some heuristics that specifically take into account both earliness and tardiness penalties to compute the heuristic information values. The performance of our algorithm is tested by numerical experiments on a large number of randomly generated problems. A comparison with solutions performance obtained by some constructive heuristics is presented. The results show that the proposed approach performs well for this problem.     

基于改进的RA算法的混合Flowshop调度问题的求解

针对混合Flowshop系统的最小化Makespan调度问题,提出基于改进的RA斜度指标的启发式算法来对工件进行排序,采用FAM算法来分配设备并给出其最优值的下界检验该算法。仿真结果表明该方法优于目前最好的启发式算法能较好地解决混合Flowshop的调度问题。     

An optimization algorithm for the workforce management in a retail chain

This work proposes a scheduling problem for the workforce management in a chain of supermarkets operating in Italy. We focus on determining the ideal mix of full-time and part-time workers which are needed every week to guarantee a satisfactory service level during the check-out operations. The generation of working shifts, to be assigned to retail workers, is subject to several constraints imposed by both labour laws and enterprise bargaining agreements.We present a mathematical formulation of the problem followed by an exact solution approach which relies on the definition of feasible daily working shifts. The number of feasible daily shifts, that are combined to determine feasible weekly shifts, could drastically increase, depending on the selected planning interval. In addition, there may exist additional constraints, that are difficult to incorporate into the mathematical model. For these reasons, a hybrid heuristic, which does not require the generation of all feasible weekly shifts, is proposed in this paper.Using appropriate statistical techniques, a sensitivity analysis is performed to test the design of the hybrid heuristic. Computational tests are carried out by solving several real instances provided by the retail firm. The results obtained by the heuristic are compared both with an exact approach and with the solutions adopted by the retail company, which have been determined by using a naïf approach. Our hybrid heuristic exhibits excellent performance finding optimal or near optimal solutions in a very limited CPU time.     

A cutting and scheduling problem in float glass manufacturing

This paper considers a cutting and scheduling problem of minimizing scrap motivated by float glass manufacturing and introduces the float glass scheduling problem. We relate it to classical problems in the scheduling literature such as no-wait hybrid flow shops and cyclic scheduling. We show that the problem is NP-hard, and identify when each of the problem’s components are polynomially solvable and when they induce hardness. In addition, we propose a simple heuristic algorithm, provide its worst-case performance bounds, and demonstrate that the bounds are tight. When the number of machines is two, the worst-case performance is 5/3.     

基于遗传算法车间流控制中调度问题的研究

提出了实现车间调度的混合遗传算法的设计方案，把经典的启发式算法、自适应算法与遗传算法相结合，将启发式搜索运用于初始种群的生成，充分发挥遗传算法良好的全局搜索能力和启发式搜索结构简单搜索速度快的特性，采用自适应方法改进交叉概率与变异概率，并通过实验验证了算法的有效性、     

约束满足混合算法求解提前/拖期Job Shop调度问题

针对提前/拖期Job Shop调度问题,建立其约束满足优化问题模型,提出了一种约束满足与禁忌搜索结合的混合算法。该算法基于约束满足思想,通过约束传播技术和启发式修复算法,得到可行调度作为禁忌搜索算法的初始解;再进行关键路径上的邻域变换,优化当前解;并采用一种全局邻域交换策略,扩大搜索空间,改善优化结果。数据实验表明了该混合算法的可行性和有效性。