Product configuration optimization using a multiobjective genetic algorithm

Product configuration is one of the key technologies in the environment of mass customization. Traditional product configuration technology focuses on constraints-based or knowledge-based application, which makes it very difficult to optimize design of product configuration. In this paper, an approach based on multiobjective genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. Firstly, a configuration-oriented product model is discussed. A multiobjective optimization problem of product configuration according to the model is described and its mathematical formulation is designed. Secondly, a multiobjective genetic algorithm is designed for finding near Pareto or Pareto optimal set for the problem. A matrix method used to check constraint is proposed, and the coding and decoding representation of the solution are designed, then a new genetic evaluation and select mechanism is proposed. Finally, performance comparison of the proposed genetic algorithm with three other genetic algorithms is made. The result shows that the proposed genetic algorithm outperforms the other genetic algorithms in this problem.