Job shop scheduling with makespan objective: A heuristic approach

Job shop has been considered as one of the most challenging scheduling problems and there are literally tremendous efforts on reducing the complexity of solution procedure for solving job shop problem. This paper presents a heuristic method to minimize makespan for different jobs in a job shop scheduling. The proposed model is based on a constructive procedure to obtain good quality schedules, very quickly. The performance of the proposed model of this paper is examined on standard benchmarks from the literature in order to evaluate its performance. Computational results show that, despite its simplicity, the proposed heuristic is computationally efficient and practical approach for the problem

Akış tipi çizelgeleme problemlerinin yapay bağışıklık sistemleri ile çözümünde yeni bir yaklaşım

The n-job, m-machine flow shop scheduling problem is one of the most general job scheduling problems. This study deals with the criteria of makespan minimization for the flow shop scheduling problem. Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) are new intelligent problem solving techniques that are being used in scheduling problems. AIS can be defined as computational systems inspired by theoretical immunology, observed immune functions, principles and mechanisms in order to solve problems. In this research, a computational method based on clonal selection principle and affinity maturation mechanisms of the immune response is used. The operation parameters of meta-heuristics have an important role on the quality of the solution. Thus, a generic systematic procedure which bases on a multi-step experimental design approach for determining the efficient system parameters for AIS is presented. Experimental results show that, the artificial immune system algorithm is more efficient than both the classical heuristic flow shop scheduling algorithms and simulated annealing.n iş m makina akış tipi iş çizelgeleme problemi en genel iş çizelgeleme problemlerinden biridir. Bu çalışma akış tipi çizelgeleme problemi için toplam tamamlanma zamanı minimizasyonu ile ilgilenmektedir. Yapay Bağışıklık Sistemleri (YBS), çizelgeleme problemlerinde son dönemlerde kullanılan yeni bir problem çözme tekniğidir. YBS, doğal bağışıklık sisteminin prensiplerini ve mekanizmalarını kullanarak problemlere çözüm üreten bir hesaplama sistemidir. Bu çalışmada, bağışıklık tepkisinin iki ayrı mekanizması olan klonel seçim prensibi ve benzerlik mekanizması üzerine kurulmuş bir metod kullanılmıştır. Meta sezgisel yöntemlerde seçilen operatörler, çözüm kalitesi üzerinde önemli bir role sahiptir. Bu nedenle, yapay bağışıklık sisteminin etkin parametrelerinin belirlenmesinde çok aşamalı bir deney tasarımı prosedürü uygulanmıştır. Deney sonuçları, yapay bağışıklık sistemlerinin klasik çizelgeleme ve tavlama benzetimi algoritmalarından daha iyi sonuçlar verdiğini göstermiştir

A New Approach to Solve Flowshop Scheduling Problems By Artificial Immune Systems

n iş m makina akış tipi iş çizelgeleme problemi en genel iş çizelgeleme problemlerinden biridir. Bu çalışma akış tipi çizelgeleme problemi için toplam tamamlanma zamanı minimizasyonu ile ilgilenmektedir. Yapay Bağışıklık Sistemleri (YBS), çizelgeleme problemlerinde son dönemlerde kullanılan yeni bir problem çözme tekniğidir. YBS, doğal bağışıklık sisteminin prensiplerini ve mekanizmalarını kullanarak problemlere çözüm üreten bir hesaplama sistemidir. Bu çalışmada, bağışıklık tepkisinin iki ayrı mekanizması olan klonel seçim prensibi ve benzerlik mekanizması üzerine kurulmuş bir metod kullanılmıştır. Meta sezgisel yöntemlerde seçilen operatörler, çözüm kalitesi üzerinde önemli bir role sahiptir. Bu nedenle, yapay bağışıklık sisteminin etkin parametrelerinin belirlenmesinde çok aşamalı bir deney tasarımı prosedürü uygulanmıştır. Deney sonuçları, yapay bağışıklık sistemlerinin klasik çizelgeleme ve tavlama benzetimi algoritmalarından daha iyi sonuçlar verdiğini göstermiştir.The n-job, m-machine flow shop scheduling problem is one of the most general job scheduling problems. This study deals with the criteria of makespan minimization for the flow shop scheduling problem. Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) are new intelligent problem solving techniques that are being used in scheduling problems. AIS can be defined as computational systems inspired by theoretical immunology, observed immune functions, principles and mechanisms in order to solve problems. In this research, a computational method based on clonal selection principle and affinity maturation mechanisms of the immune response is used. The operation parameters of meta-heuristics have an important role on the quality of the solution. Thus, a generic systematic procedure which bases on a multi-step experimental design approach for determining the efficient system parameters for AIS is presented. Experimental results show that, the artificial immune system algorithm is more efficient than both the classical heuristic flow shop scheduling algorithms and simulated annealing

A New Approach to Solve Flowshop Scheduling Problems By Artificial Immune Systems

n iş m makina akış tipi iş çizelgeleme problemi en genel iş çizelgeleme problemlerinden biridir. Bu çalışma akış tipi çizelgeleme problemi için toplam tamamlanma zamanı minimizasyonu ile ilgilenmektedir. Yapay Bağışıklık Sistemleri (YBS), çizelgeleme problemlerinde son dönemlerde kullanılan yeni bir problem çözme tekniğidir. YBS, doğal bağışıklık sisteminin prensiplerini ve mekanizmalarını kullanarak problemlere çözüm üreten bir hesaplama sistemidir. Bu çalışmada, bağışıklık tepkisinin iki ayrı mekanizması olan klonel seçim prensibi ve benzerlik mekanizması üzerine kurulmuş bir metod kullanılmıştır. Meta sezgisel yöntemlerde seçilen operatörler, çözüm kalitesi üzerinde önemli bir role sahiptir. Bu nedenle, yapay bağışıklık sisteminin etkin parametrelerinin belirlenmesinde çok aşamalı bir deney tasarımı prosedürü uygulanmıştır. Deney sonuçları, yapay bağışıklık sistemlerinin klasik çizelgeleme ve tavlama benzetimi algoritmalarından daha iyi sonuçlar verdiğini göstermiştir.The n-job, m-machine flow shop scheduling problem is one of the most general job scheduling problems. This study deals with the criteria of makespan minimization for the flow shop scheduling problem. Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) are new intelligent problem solving techniques that are being used in scheduling problems. AIS can be defined as computational systems inspired by theoretical immunology, observed immune functions, principles and mechanisms in order to solve problems. In this research, a computational method based on clonal selection principle and affinity maturation mechanisms of the immune response is used. The operation parameters of meta-heuristics have an important role on the quality of the solution. Thus, a generic systematic procedure which bases on a multi-step experimental design approach for determining the efficient system parameters for AIS is presented. Experimental results show that, the artificial immune system algorithm is more efficient than both the classical heuristic flow shop scheduling algorithms and simulated annealing

Analysis of Job Shop problem through an expert system

[ENG] In the present work it is defined a new methodology, based on Experts Systems, for sequencing in Job Shop Environments. This work is developed in two phases. In the first one, the different techniques used are defined. In the second one, the necessary statistical tests are executed. The results show that the new technique don’t produce an optimal result every single time; but in few seconds, this technique can find sub-optimal solutions with an approximation of 92.95 % and 73.88%, to the optimal solution, in the variables of total process time (makespan) and total idle time, respectively. Finally, the new technique is compared with other similar techniques

Application of Reinforcement Learning to Multi-Agent Production Scheduling

Reinforcement learning (RL) has received attention in recent years from agent-based researchers because it can be applied to problems where autonomous agents learn to select proper actions for achieving their goals based on interactions with their environment. Each time an agent performs an action, the environment¡Šs response, as indicated by its new state, is used by the agent to reward or penalize its action. The agent¡Šs goal is to maximize the total amount of reward it receives over the long run. Although there have been several successful examples demonstrating the usefulness of RL, its application to manufacturing systems has not been fully explored. The objective of this research is to develop a set of guidelines for applying the Q-learning algorithm to enable an individual agent to develop a decision making policy for use in agent-based production scheduling applications such as dispatching rule selection and job routing. For the dispatching rule selection problem, a single machine agent employs the Q-learning algorithm to develop a decision-making policy on selecting the appropriate dispatching rule from among three given dispatching rules. In the job routing problem, a simulated job shop system is used for examining the implementation of the Q-learning algorithm for use by job agents when making routing decisions in such an environment. Two factorial experiment designs for studying the settings used to apply Q-learning to the single machine dispatching rule selection problem and the job routing problem are carried out. This study not only investigates the main effects of this Q-learning application but also provides recommendations for factor settings and useful guidelines for future applications of Q-learning to agent-based production scheduling

An Enhanced Estimation of Distribution Algorithm for Energy-Efficient Job-Shop Scheduling Problems with Transportation Constraints

[EN] Nowadays, the manufacturing industry faces the challenge of reducing energy consumption and the associated environmental impacts. Production scheduling is an effective approach for energy-savings management. During the entire workshop production process, both the processing and transportation operations consume large amounts of energy. To reduce energy consumption, an energy-efficient job-shop scheduling problem (EJSP) with transportation constraints was proposed in this paper. First, a mixed-integer programming model was established to minimize both the comprehensive energy consumption and makespan in the EJSP. Then, an enhanced estimation of distribution algorithm (EEDA) was developed to solve the problem. In the proposed algorithm, an estimation of distribution algorithm was employed to perform the global search and an improved simulated annealing algorithm was designed to perform the local search. Finally, numerical experiments were implemented to analyze the performance of the EEDA. The results showed that the EEDA is a promising approach and that it can solve EJSP effectively and efficiently.This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (No. 17KJB460018), the Innovation Foundation for Science and Technology of Yangzhou University (No. 2016CXJ020 and No. 2017CXJ018), Science and Technology Project of Yangzhou under (No. YZ2017278), Research Topics of Teaching Reform of Yangzhou University under (No. YZUJX2018-28B), and the Spanish Government (No. TIN2016-80856-R and No. TIN2015-65515-C4-1-R).Dai, M.; Zhang, Z.; Giret Boggino, AS.; Salido, MA. (2019). An Enhanced Estimation of Distribution Algorithm for Energy-Efficient Job-Shop Scheduling Problems with Transportation Constraints. Sustainability. 11(11):1-23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113085S1231111Wu, X., & Sun, Y. (2018). 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Holistic, data-driven, service and supply chain optimisation: linked optimisation.

The intensity of competition and technological advancements in the business environment has made companies collaborate and cooperate together as a means of survival. This creates a chain of companies and business components with unified business objectives. However, managing the decision-making process (like scheduling, ordering, delivering and allocating) at the various business components and maintaining a holistic objective is a huge business challenge, as these operations are complex and dynamic. This is because the overall chain of business processes is widely distributed across all the supply chain participants; therefore, no individual collaborator has a complete overview of the processes. Increasingly, such decisions are automated and are strongly supported by optimisation algorithms - manufacturing optimisation, B2B ordering, financial trading, transportation scheduling and allocation. However, most of these algorithms do not incorporate the complexity associated with interacting decision-making systems like supply chains. It is well-known that decisions made at one point in supply chains can have significant consequences that ripple through linked production and transportation systems. Recently, global shocks to supply chains (COVID-19, climate change, blockage of the Suez Canal) have demonstrated the importance of these interdependencies, and the need to create supply chains that are more resilient and have significantly reduced impact on the environment. Such interacting decision-making systems need to be considered through an optimisation process. However, the interactions between such decision-making systems are not modelled. We therefore believe that modelling such interactions is an opportunity to provide computational extensions to current optimisation paradigms. This research study aims to develop a general framework for formulating and solving holistic, data-driven optimisation problems in service and supply chains. This research achieved this aim and contributes to scholarship by firstly considering the complexities of supply chain problems from a linked problem perspective. This leads to developing a formalism for characterising linked optimisation problems as a model for supply chains. Secondly, the research adopts a method for creating a linked optimisation problem benchmark by linking existing classical benchmark sets. This involves using a mix of classical optimisation problems, typically relating to supply chain decision problems, to describe different modes of linkages in linked optimisation problems. Thirdly, several techniques for linking supply chain fragmented data have been proposed in the literature to identify data relationships. Therefore, this thesis explores some of these techniques and combines them in specific ways to improve the data discovery process. Lastly, many state-of-the-art algorithms have been explored in the literature and these algorithms have been used to tackle problems relating to supply chain problems. This research therefore investigates the resilient state-of-the-art optimisation algorithms presented in the literature, and then designs suitable algorithmic approaches inspired by the existing algorithms and the nature of problem linkages to address different problem linkages in supply chains. Considering research findings and future perspectives, the study demonstrates the suitability of algorithms to different linked structures involving two sub-problems, which suggests further investigations on issues like the suitability of algorithms on more complex structures, benchmark methodologies, holistic goals and evaluation, processmining, game theory and dependency analysis

Effective and efficient estimation of distribution algorithms for permutation and scheduling problems.

Estimation of Distribution Algorithm (EDA) is a branch of evolutionary computation that learn a probabilistic model of good solutions. Probabilistic models are used to represent relationships between solution variables which may give useful, human-understandable insights into real-world problems. Also, developing an effective PM has been shown to significantly reduce function evaluations needed to reach good solutions. This is also useful for real-world problems because their representations are often complex needing more computation to arrive at good solutions. In particular, many real-world problems are naturally represented as permutations and have expensive evaluation functions. EDAs can, however, be computationally expensive when models are too complex. There has therefore been much recent work on developing suitable EDAs for permutation representation. EDAs can now produce state-of-the-art performance on some permutation benchmark problems. However, models are still complex and computationally expensive making them hard to apply to real-world problems. This study investigates some limitations of EDAs in solving permutation and scheduling problems. The focus of this thesis is on addressing redundancies in the Random Key representation, preserving diversity in EDA, simplifying the complexity attributed to the use of multiple local improvement procedures and transferring knowledge from solving a benchmark project scheduling problem to a similar real-world problem. In this thesis, we achieve state-of-the-art performance on the Permutation Flowshop Scheduling Problem benchmarks as well as significantly reducing both the computational effort required to build the probabilistic model and the number of function evaluations. We also achieve competitive results on project scheduling benchmarks. Methods adapted for solving a real-world project scheduling problem presents significant improvements