Algorithms and Methods for Designing and Scheduling Smart Manufacturing Systems

This book, as a Special Issue, is a collection of some of the latest advancements in designing and scheduling smart manufacturing systems. The smart manufacturing concept is undoubtedly considered a paradigm shift in manufacturing technology. This conception is part of the Industry 4.0 strategy, or equivalent national policies, and brings new challenges and opportunities for the companies that are facing tough global competition. Industry 4.0 should not only be perceived as one of many possible strategies for manufacturing companies, but also as an important practice within organizations. The main focus of Industry 4.0 implementation is to combine production, information technology, and the internet. The presented Special Issue consists of ten research papers presenting the latest works in the field. The papers include various topics, which can be divided into three categories—(i) designing and scheduling manufacturing systems (seven articles), (ii) machining process optimization (two articles), (iii) digital insurance platforms (one article). Most of the mentioned research problems are solved in these articles by using genetic algorithms, the harmony search algorithm, the hybrid bat algorithm, the combined whale optimization algorithm, and other optimization and decision-making methods. The above-mentioned groups of articles are briefly described in this order in this book

Research trends in combinatorial optimization

Acknowledgments This work has been partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities through the project COGDRIVE (DPI2017-86915-C3-3-R). In this context, we would also like to thank the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Open access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Gravitational Search and Harmony Search Algorithms for Solving the Chemical Kinetics Optimization Problems

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the global optimization algorithms application to the solution of inverse problems of chemical kinetics. Two heuristic algorithms are considered - the gravitational search algorithm and the harmony algorithm. The article describes the algorithms, as well as the application of these algorithms to the optimization of test functions. After that, these algorithms are used to search for the kinetic parameters of two chemical processes – propane pre-reforming on Ni-catalyst and catalytic isomerization of pentane-hexane fraction. For the first process both algorithms showed approximately the same solution, while for the second problem the gravitational search algorithm showed a smaller value of the minimizing function. Wherefore, it is concluded that on large-scale problems it is better to use the gravitational search algorithm rather than the harmony algorithm, while obtaining a smaller value of the minimizing function in a minimum time. On low-scale problems both algorithms showed approximately the same result, while demonstrating the coincidence of the calculated data with the experimental ones