A two-dimensional bin-packing problem with conflict penalties

In this paper, we address the two-dimensional bin-packing (2BP) problem with variable conflict penalties, which incur if conflicting items are loaded into the same bin. Such a problem is observed in applications such as supermarket chains and automobile components transportation. The problem not only focuses on minimisation of number of bins used, but also deals with the conflict penalties at the same time. We propose a heuristic method based on the IMA algorithm and adapt it to solve this problem. A local search procedure is also designed to further improve the solutions. For instances derived from benchmark test data, the computational results indicate that the adapted IMA heuristic algorithm with local search effectively balances the number of bins used and the conflict penalties. The algorithm outperforms several adapted approaches that are well known for the 2BP problems.     

Development of a hybrid metaheuristic to minimise earliness and tardiness in a hybrid flowshop with sequence-dependent setup times

This paper presents an efficient hybrid metaheuristics for scheduling jobs in a hybrid flowshop with sequence-dependent setup times. The problem is to determine a schedule that minimises the sum of earliness and tardiness of jobs. Since this problem class is NP-hard in the strong sense, there seems to be no escape from appealing to metaheuristic procedures to achieve near-optimal solutions for real life problems. This paper proposes the hybrid metaheuristic algorithm which comprises three components: an initial population generation method based on an ant colony optimisation, a simulated annealing algorithm as an evolutionary algorithm that employs certain probability to avoid becoming trapped in a local optimum, and a variable neighbourhood search which involves three local search procedures to improve the population. A design of experiments approach is employed to calibrate the parameters of the algorithm. Results of computational tests in solving 252 problems up to 100 jobs have shown that the proposed algorithm is computationally more effective in yielding solutions of better quality than the adapted random key genetic algorithm and immune algorithm presented previously.     

Local search for nonpreemptive multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling

This paper addresses a general class of nonpreemptive resource-constrained project scheduling problems in which activity durations are discrete functions of committed renewable and nonrenewable resources. We provide a well known 0-1 problem formulation and stress the importance of the model by giving applications within production and operations management. Furthermore, we prove that the feasibility problem is already NP-complete. Solution procedures proposed so far have the following shortcomings: exact methods can solve only very small instances to optimality; heuristic solution approaches fail to generate feasible solutions when problems become highly resource-constrained. Hence, we propose a new local search method that first tries to find a feasible solution and secondly performs a single-neighborhood search on the set of feasible mode assignments. To evaluate the new procedure we perform a rigorous computational study on two benchmark sets. The experiment includes a comparison of our procedure with other heuristics.     

A hybrid adaptive large neighbourhood search for multi-depot open vehicle routing problems

In this paper we address the multi-depot open vehicle routing problem (MDOVRP), a complex and difficult problem arising in several real-life applications. In the MDOVRP vehicles start from several depots and do not need to return to the depot at the end of their routes. We propose a hybrid adaptive large neighbourhood search algorithm to solve the MDOVRP coupled with improvement procedures yielding a hybrid metaheuristic. The performance of the proposed metaheuristic is assessed on various benchmark instances proposed for this problem and its special cases, containing up to 48 customers (single-depot version) and up to six depots and 288 customers. The computational results indicate that the proposed algorithm is very competitive compared with the state-of-the-art methods and improves 15 best-known solutions for multi-depot instances and one best-known solution for a single-depot instance. A detailed sensitivity analysis highlights which components of the metaheuristic contribute most to the solution quality.     

A problem space algorithm for single machine weighted tardiness problems

We propose a problem space genetic algorithm to solve single machine total weighted tardiness scheduling problems. The proposed algorithm utilizes global and time-dependent local dominance rules to improve the neighborhood structure of the search space. They are also a powerful exploitation (intensifying) tool since the global optimum is one of the local optimum solutions. Furthermore, the problem space search method significantly enhances the exploration (diversification) capability of the genetic algorithm. In summary, we can improve both solution quality and robustness over the other local search algorithms reported in the literature.     

基于混合粒子群算法的物流配送路径优化问题研究

针对物流配送路径优化问题,提出了一种融合Powell局部寻优算法和模拟退火算法的混合粒子群算法,以克服单用粒子群算法求解问题早熟收敛的不足,增加算法的开发能力,提高算法的全局搜索能力,并进行了实验计算.计算结果表明,用混合粒子群算法求解物流配送路径优化问题,可以在一定程度上提高粒子群算法在局部搜索能力和搜索全局最优解概率,从而得到质量较高的解.     

A variable neighbourhood search algorithm for the flexible job-shop scheduling problem

The flexible job-shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is a generalisation of the classical job-shop scheduling problem which allows an operation of each job to be executed by any machine out of a set of available machines. FJSP consists of two sub-problems which are assigning each operation to a machine out of a set of capable machines (routing sub-problem) and sequencing the assigned operations on the machines (sequencing sub-problem). This paper proposes a variable neighbourhood search (VNS) algorithm that solves the FJSP to minimise makespan. In the process of the presented algorithm, various neighbourhood structures related to assignment and sequencing problems are used for generating neighbouring solutions. To compare our algorithm with previous ones, an extensive computational study on 181 benchmark problems has been conducted. The results obtained from the presented algorithm are quite comparable to those obtained by the best-known algorithms for FJSP.     

Scheduling on a two-machine permutation flow shop under time-of-use electricity tariffs

We consider a two-machine permutation flow shop scheduling problem to minimise the total electricity cost of processing jobs under time-of-use electricity tariffs. We formulate the problem as a mixed integer linear programming, then we design two heuristic algorithms based on Johnson’s rule and dynamic programming method, respectively. In particular, we show how to find an optimal schedule using dynamic programming when the processing sequence is fixed. In addition, we propose an iterated local search algorithm to solve the problem with problem-tailored procedures and move operators, and test the computational performance of these methods on randomly generated instances.     

Modelling and solving algorithm for two-stage scheduling of construction component manufacturing with machining and welding process

This paper focuses on a two-stage machining and welding scheduling problem based on an investigation at a structural metal manufacturing plant, aiming to minimise the total makespan. Several parts processed at Stage one according to classical job-shop scheduling are grouped into a single construction component at the second welding stage. Fabrication of the construction component cannot begin until all comprising parts have been completed at Stage one. This paper establishes a novel mathematic model to minimise the total makespan by mainly considering the dominance relationship between the construction component and the corresponding parts. In order to solve this two-stage problem, we propose an improved harmony search algorithm. A local search method is applied to the best vector at each iteration, so that a more optimal vector can be subsequently realised. The average value, minimum value, relative percentage deviation and standard deviation are discussed in the experimental section, and the proposed local best harmony search algorithm outperforms the genetic algorithm, immune algorithm and harmony search algorithm without local search. Moreover, six optimal solutions are given as Gantt charts, which vividly illustrate that the mathematical model established in this paper can facilitate the development of a better scheduling scheme.     

Production scheduling optimization algorithm for the hot rolling processes

The hot rolling production scheduling problem is an extremely difficult and time-consuming process, so it is quite difficult to achieve an optimal solution with traditional optimization methods owing to the high computational complexity. To ensure the feasibility of solutions and improve the efficiency of the scheduling, this paper proposes a vehicle routing problem (VRP) to model the problem and develops an easily implemented hybrid approach (QPSO-SA) to solve the problem. In the hybrid approach, quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) combines local search and global search to search the optimal results and simulated annealing (SA) employs certain probability to avoid getting into a local optimum. The computational results from actual production data have shown that the proposed model and algorithm are feasible and effective for the hot rolling scheduling problem.     

A tabu search algorithm with solution space partition and repairing procedure for cyclic robotic cell scheduling problem

This paper proposes a tabu search (TS) algorithm to solve an NP-hard cyclic robotic scheduling problem. The objective is to find a cyclic robot schedule that maximises the throughput. We first formulate the problem as a linear program, provided that the robot move sequence is given, and reduce the problem to searching for an optimal robot move sequence. We find that the solution space can be divided into some specific subspaces by the maximal number of works-in-process. Then, we propose a TS algorithm to synchronously perform local searches in each subspace. To speed up our algorithm, dominated subspaces are eliminated by lower and upper bounds of the cycle time during the iterations. In the TS, a constructive heuristic is developed to generate initial solutions for each subspace and a repairing procedure is proposed to maintain the feasibility of the solutions generated in the initialisation stage and the neighbours search process. Computational comparison both on benchmark instances and randomly generated instances indicates that our algorithm is efficient for the cyclic robotic scheduling problem.     

A very large scale neighborhood search algorithm for the q-mode problem

The q-mode problem is a combinatorial optimization problem that arises in the context of partitioning a given collection of data vectors with categorical attributes. A neighborhood search algorithm is proposed for solving the q-mode problem. This algorithm is based on a very large scale neighborhood that is implicitly searched using network flow techniques. The algorithm is evaluated through a computational experiment using randomly generated instances. The results show that in general this algorithm obtains very-good-quality local optima, and that in instances with strong natural clusters the algorithm consistently finds optimal or near-optimal solutions.     

Multiple colony ant algorithm for job-shop scheduling problem

Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a metaheuristic that takes inspiration from the foraging behaviour of a real ant colony to solve the optimization problem. This paper presents a multiple colony ant algorithm to solve the Job-shop Scheduling Problem with the objective that minimizes the makespan. In a multiple colony ant algorithm, ants cooperate to find good solutions by exchanging information among colonies which are stored in a master pheromone matrix that serves the role of global memory. The exploration of the search space in each colony is guided by different heuristic information. Several specific features are introduced in the algorithm in order to improve the efficiency of the search. Among others is the local search method by which the ant can fine-tune their neighbourhood solutions. The proposed algorithm is tested over set of benchmark problems and the computational results demonstrate that the multiple colony ant algorithm performs well on the benchmark problems.     

基于复合形算子的基础支护桩优化设计智能算法研究

本文通过遗传算法和传统复合形搜索法相结合,基于对遗传算法算子计算结构的调整,并将遗传算法与神经网络相结合,提出并研究了一种新的优化设计方法,协同求解复杂工程中的优化问题。并针对悬臂式支护桩的优化设计的数学模型,采用该算法进行了优化设计分析;计算结果表明,该算法可克服遗传算法最终进化至最优解较慢和人工神经网络易陷入局部解的缺陷,具有较好的全局性和收敛速度。     

Optimizing production smoothing decisions via batch selection for mixed-model just-in-time manufacturing systems with arbitrary setup and processing times

This paper is concerned with the production smoothing problem that arises in the context of just-in-time manufacturing systems. The production smoothing problem can be solved by employing a two-phase solution methodology, where optimal batch sizes for the products and a sequence for these batches are specified in the first and second phases, respectively. In this paper, we focus on the problem of selecting optimal batch sizes for the products. We propose a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm for the exact solution of the problem. Our computational experiments demonstrate that the DP approach requires significant computational effort, rendering its use in a real environment impractical. We develop three meta-heuristics for the near-optimal solution of the problem, namely strategic oscillation, scatter search and path relinking. The efficiency and efficacy of the methods are tested via a computational study. The computational results show that the meta-heuristic methods considered in this paper provide near-optimal solutions for the problem within several minutes. In particular, the path relinking method can be used for the planning of mixed-model manufacturing systems in real time with its negligible computational requirement and high solution quality.     

面向批量订单包装的物流箱规格优化问题研究

目的 针对面向仓储物流环境下多型号多批量产品的订单包装问题,提出一种预制物流箱规格优化模型及算法。方法 对产品订单建立订单分包规则,确定分包方案,以订单包装材料总成本最小为优化目标建立物流箱规格优化模型。针对该模型提出一种改进模拟退火算法,通过贪婪策略求解最优分包方案,降低模型计算复杂度,设计一种新型解更新算子,以提高算法寻优能力,设计一种自适应步长策略,以平衡算法前期全局搜索与后期局部搜索的能力。结果 通过实例证明,文中提出的算法相较于其他算法,具有更强的求解能力,与实例企业仓储包装现状相比,同批订单降低了17%的包装材料成本。结论 该方法可用于解决产品种类多、尺寸差异大、动态更新等应用场景下的系列运输包装纸箱规格优化问题,为企业物流运输管理提供了一种有效的包装优化思路和解决方法。     

Genetic algorithm with local search for the unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem with sequence-dependent set-up times

In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA) with local search is proposed for the unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem with the objective of minimising the maximum completion time (makespan). We propose a simple chromosome structure consisting of random key numbers in a hybrid genetic-local search algorithm. Random key numbers are frequently used in GAs but create additional difficulties when hybrid factors are implemented in a local search. The best chromosome of each generation is improved using a local search during the algorithm, but the better job sequence (which might appear during the local search operation) must be adapted to the chromosome that will be used in each successive generation. Determining the genes (and the data in the genes) that would be exchanged is the challenge of using random numbers. We have developed an algorithm that satisfies the adaptation of local search results into the GAs with a minimum relocation operation of the genes’ random key numbers – this is the main contribution of the paper. A new hybrid approach is tested on a set of problems taken from the literature, and the computational results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Cyclic transfers in school timetabling

In this paper we propose a neighbourhood structure based on sequential/cyclic moves and a cyclic transfer algorithm for the high school timetabling problem. This method enables execution of complex moves for improving an existing solution, while dealing with the challenge of exploring the neighbourhood efficiently. An improvement graph is used in which certain negative cycles correspond to the neighbours; these cycles are explored using a recursive method. We address the problem of applying large neighbourhood structure methods on problems where the cost function is not exactly the sum of independent cost functions, as it is in the set partitioning problem. For computational experiments we use four real world data sets for high school timetabling in the Netherlands and England. We present results of the cyclic transfer algorithm with different settings on these data sets. The costs decrease by 8–28% if we use the cyclic transfers for local optimization compared to our initial solutions. The quality of the best initial solutions are comparable to the solutions found in practice by timetablers.     

Multi-objective integrated acyclic crew rostering and vehicle assignment problem in public bus transportation

In this study, we try to solve a real planning problem faced in public bus transportation. It is a multi-objective integrated crew rostering and vehicle assignment problem. We model this problem as a multi-objective set partitioning problem. Most of the time, crew rostering problem with a single-objective function is considered, and the output may not satisfy some transport companies. To minimize the cost and maximize the fairness of the workload among the drivers, we define many criteria. Although crew rostering problem and its integrated versions appear in the literature, it is the first time these two problems are integrated. We propose a new multi-objective tabu search algorithm to obtain near Pareto-optimal solutions. The algorithm works with a set of solutions using parallel search. We test our algorithm for the case with ten objectives and define a method to choose solutions from the approximated efficient frontier to present to the user. We discuss the performance of our meta-heuristic approach.

     

Two-stage assembly flow-shop scheduling problem with non-identical assembly machines considering setup times

In this paper, we address the two stage assembly flow-shop problem with multiple non-identical assembly machines in stage two to minimise weighted sum of makespan and mean completion time. Also, sequence dependent setup times are considered for the first stage. This problem is a generalisation of previously proposed two stage assembly flow-shop problems (TSAFSP). In many real world industrial and production systems, there is more than one assembly machine to assemble job components. After extending a mathematical mixed-integer linear programming model to solve the problem, we use GAMS software. The TSAFSP has been known as NP-hard. Therefore, our more general problem is NP-hard too and so for large sized problems the right way to proceed is with the use of heuristic algorithms. So in this paper a hybrid VNS heuristic, which is a combination of the variable neighbourhood search (VNS) algorithm and a novel heuristic is developed and its solutions compared with solutions obtained by GAMS. Computational experiments reveal that the hybrid VNS heuristic performs much better than GAMS with respect to the percentage errors and run times.