Hybridation of Bayesian networks and evolutionary algorithms for multi-objective optimization in an integrated product design and project management context

A better integration of preliminary product design and project management processes at early steps of system design is nowadays a key industrial issue. Therefore, the aim is to make firms evolve from classical sequential approach (first product design the project design and management) to new integrated approaches. In this paper, a model for integrated product/project optimization is first proposed which allows taking into account simultaneously decisions coming from the product and project managers. However, the resulting model has an important underlying complexity, and a multi-objective optimization technique is required to provide managers with appropriate scenarios in a reasonable amount of time. The proposed approach is based on an original evolutionary algorithm called evolutionary algorithm oriented by knowledge (EAOK). This algorithm is based on the interaction between an adapted evolutionary algorithm and a model of knowledge (MoK) used for giving relevant orientations during the search process. The evolutionary operators of the EA are modified in order to take into account these orientations. The MoK is based on the Bayesian Network formalism and is built both from expert knowledge and from individuals generated by the EA. A learning process permits to update probabilities of the BN from a set of selected individuals. At each cycle of the EA, probabilities contained into the MoK are used to give some bias to the new evolutionary operators. This method ensures both a faster and effective optimization, but it also provides the decision maker with a graphic and interactive model of knowledge linked to the studied project. An experimental platform has been developed to experiment the algorithm and a large campaign of tests permits to compare different strategies as well as the benefits of this novel approach in comparison with a classical EA

Amélioration des techniques d'optimisation combinatoire par retour d'expérience dans le cadre de la sélection de scénarios de Produit/Projet

La définition et l’utilisation d'un modèle couplant la conception de produit et la conduite du projet dès les phases amont de l’étude d’un système correspondent à une forte demande industrielle. Ce modèle permet la prise en compte simultanée de décisions issues des deux environnements produit/projet mais il représente une augmentation conséquente de la dimension de l'espace de recherche à explorer pour le système d'aide à la décision, notamment lorsque il s'agit d'une optimisation multiobjectif. Les méthodes de type métaheuristique tel que les algorithmes évolutionnaires, sont une alternative intéressante pour la résolution de ce problème fortement combinatoire. Ce problème présente néanmoins une particularité intéressante et inexploitée : Il est en effet courant de réutiliser, en les adaptant, des composants ou des procédures précédemment mis en œuvre dans les produits/projets antérieurs. L'idée mise en avant dans ce travail consiste à utiliser ces connaissances « a priori » disponibles afin de guider la recherche de nouvelles solutions par l'algorithme évolutionnaire. Le formalisme des réseaux bayésiens a été retenu pour la modélisation interactive des connaissances expertes. De nouveaux opérateurs évolutionnaires ont été définis afin d'utiliser les connaissances contenues dans le réseau. De plus, le système a été complété par un processus d'apprentissage paramétrique en cours d'optimisation permettant d'adapter le modèle si le guidage ne donne pas de bons résultats. La méthode proposée assure à la fois une optimisation plus rapide et efficace, mais elle permet également de fournir au décideur un modèle de connaissances graphique et interactif associé au projet étudié. Une plateforme expérimentale a été réalisée pour valider notre approche. ABSTRACT : The definition and use of a model coupling product design and project management in the earliest phase of the study of a system correspond to a keen industrial demand. This model allows simultaneous to take into account decisions resulting from the two environments (product and project) but it represents a consequent increase of the search space dimension for the decision-making system, in particular when it concerns a multiobjective optimization. Metaheuristics methods such as evolutionary algorithm are an interesting way to solve this strongly combinative problem. Nevertheless, this problem presents an interesting and unexploited characteristic: It is indeed current to re-use, by adapting them, the components or the procedures previously implemented in pasted product or project. The idea proposed in this work consists in using this “a priori” knowledge available in order to guide the search for new solutions by the evolutionary algorithm. Bayesian network was retained for the interactive modeling of expert knowledge. New evolutionary operators were defined in order to use knowledge contained in the network. Moreover, the system is completed by a process of parametric learning during optimization witch make it possible to adapt the model if guidance does not give good results. The method suggested ensures both a faster and effective optimization, but it also makes it possible to provide to the decision maker a graphic and interactive model of knowledge linked to studied project. An experimental platform was carried out to validate our approach

Piecewise Affine Registration of Biological Images for Volume Reconstruction

This manuscript tackles the reconstruction of 3D volumes via mono-modal registration of series of 2D biological images (histological sections, autoradiographs, cryosections, etc.). The process of acquiring these images typically induces composite transformations that we model as a number of rigid or affine local transformations embedded in an elastic one. We propose a registration approach closely derived from this model. Given a pair of input images, we first compute a dense similarity field between them with a block matching algorithm. We use as a similarity measure an extension of the classical correlation coefficient that improves the consistency of the field. A hierarchical clustering algorithm then automatically partitions the field into a number of classes from which we extract independent pairs of sub-images. Our clustering algorithm relies on the Earth mover’s distribution metric and is additionally guided by robust least-square estimation of the transformations associated with each cluster. Finally, the pairs of sub-images are, independently, affinely registered and a hybrid affine/non-linear interpolation scheme is used to compose the output registered image. We investigate the behavior of our approach on several batches of histological data and discuss its sensitivity to parameters and noise

Optimisation of the concurrent product and process configuration: an approach to reduce computation time with an experimental evaluation

International audienceConcurrent configuration of a product and its associated production process is a challenging problem in customer/supplier relations dealing with customisable or configurable products. It gathers in a single model multiple choices and constraints which come simultaneously from products (choices of components or functionalities), from processes (choices of resources and quantities) and from their mutual interrelations. Considering this problem as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP), the aim of this article is to improve its optimisation, while considering multiple objectives. Using an existing evolutionary optimisation algorithm as a basis, we propose an approach that reduces the computation time required for optimisation. The idea is first to quickly compute a rough Pareto of solutions, then ask the user to select an area of interest, and finally to launch a second computation on this restricted area. After an introduction to the problem, the approach is explained and the algorithm adaptations are presented. Then various computation experiments results demonstrate that computation times are significantly reduced while keeping the optimality level

Representative Benchmark for Concurrent Product and Process Configuration Problem: Definitions and Some Problem Instances

International audienceThis paper considers the Optimization of Concurrent Product and Process Configuration problems (O-CPPC) that satisfy various number of criteria, which rely on the customer’s requirements and the objectives of the company. Various works have proposed evolutionary optimization algorithms dedicated to this concurrent configuration problem with generic model propositions due to this paper is relevant to the evaluation of these optimization algorithms. The aim of this paper is to define a set of instances of the generic model that represent a large family of problems. First, a background of the Optimization of Concurrent Product and Process Configuration problems is introduced. Next, some basic definitions of an O-CPPC generic model are analyzed. Then, the main general parameters to define an instance are presented (Product Structure, Process Structure, Model Size and Model Constraint Density) in order to propose some general evaluation tests. And finally, to be consistent with the previous works, some basic cases are described to show how to deal with this kind of problem in an organized way

Some experimental results relevant to the optimization of configuration and planning problems.

This communication deals with mass customization and the association of the product configuration task with the planning of its production process while trying to minimize cost and cycle time. We consider a two steps approach that first permit to interactively (with the customer) achieve a first product configuration and first process plan (thanks to non-negotiable requirements) and then optimize both of them (with remaining negotiable requirements). This communication concerns the second optimization step. Our oal is to evaluate a recent evolutionary algorithm (EA). As both problems are considered as constraints satisfaction problems, the optimization problem is constrained. Therefore the considered EA was selected and adapted to fit the problem. The experimentations will compare the EA with a conventional branch and bound according to the problem size and the density of constraints. The hypervolume metric is used for comparison

Automated Piecewise Affine Registration of Biological Images

This report tackles the registration of 2D biological images (histological sections or autoradiographs) to 2D images from the same or different modalities (e.g., histology or MRI). The process of acquiring these images typically induces composite transformations that we model as a number of rigid or affine local transformations embedded in an elastic one. We propose a registration approach closely derived from this model. Given a pair of input images, we first compute a dense similarity field between them with a block matching algorithm. A hierarchical clustering algorithm then automatically partitions this field into a number of classes from which we extract independent pairs of sub-images. Our clustering algorithm relies on the Earth mover's distribution metric and is additionally guided by robust least-square estimation of the transformations associated with each cluster. Finally, the pairs of sub-images are, independently, affinely registered and a hybrid affine/non-linear interpolation scheme is used to compose the output registered image. We investigate the behavior of our approach under a variety of conditions, and discuss examples using simulated and real medical images, including MRI, autoradiography, histology and cryosection data. We also detail the reconstruction of a 3-D volume from a series of 2-D histological sections and compare it against a reconstruction obtained with a global rigid approach

Paramagnetic rims are a promising diagnostic imaging biomarker in multiple sclerosis

Background: White matter lesions (WMLs) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) may contribute to misdiagnosis. In chronic active lesions, peripheral iron-laden macrophages appear as paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs). Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of PRLs in differentiating MS from mimics using clinical 3T MRI scanners. Method: This retrospective international study reviewed MRI scans of patients with MS (n = 254), MS mimics (n = 91) and older healthy controls (n = 217). WMLs, detected using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI, were analysed with phase-sensitive imaging. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed for PRLs. Results: At least one PRL was found in 22.9% of MS and 26.1% of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients. Only one PRL was found elsewhere. The identification of ⩾1 PRL was the optimal cut-off and had high specificity (99.7%, confidence interval (CI) = 98.20%–99.99%) when distinguishing MS and CIS from mimics and healthy controls, but lower sensitivity (24.0%, CI = 18.9%–36.6%). All patients with a PRL showing a central vein sign (CVS) in the same lesion (n = 54) had MS or CIS, giving a specificity of 100% (CI = 98.8%–100.0%) but equally low sensitivity (21.3%, CI = 16.4%–26.81%) Conclusion: PRLs may reduce diagnostic uncertainty in MS by being a highly specific imaging diagnostic biomarker, especially when used in conjunction with the CVS

Improvement of combinatorial optimization using experience feedback mechanism

La définition et l’utilisation d'un modèle couplant la conception de produit et la conduite du projet dès les phases amont de l’étude d’un système correspondent à une forte demande industrielle. Ce modèle permet la prise en compte simultanée de décisions issues des deux environnements produit/projet mais il représente une augmentation conséquente de la dimension de l'espace de recherche à explorer pour le système d'aide à la décision, notamment lorsque il s'agit d'une optimisation multiobjectif. Les méthodes de type métaheuristique tel que les algorithmes évolutionnaires, sont une alternative intéressante pour la résolution de ce problème fortement combinatoire. Ce problème présente néanmoins une particularité intéressante et inexploitée : Il est en effet courant de réutiliser, en les adaptant, des composants ou des procédures précédemment mis en œuvre dans les produits/projets antérieurs. L'idée mise en avant dans ce travail consiste à utiliser ces connaissances « a priori » disponibles afin de guider la recherche de nouvelles solutions par l'algorithme évolutionnaire. Le formalisme des réseaux bayésiens a été retenu pour la modélisation interactive des connaissances expertes. De nouveaux opérateurs évolutionnaires ont été définis afin d'utiliser les connaissances contenues dans le réseau. De plus, le système a été complété par un processus d'apprentissage paramétrique en cours d'optimisation permettant d'adapter le modèle si le guidage ne donne pas de bons résultats. La méthode proposée assure à la fois une optimisation plus rapide et efficace, mais elle permet également de fournir au décideur un modèle de connaissances graphique et interactif associé au projet étudié. Une plateforme expérimentale a été réalisée pour valider notre approche.The definition and use of a model coupling product design and project management in the earliest phase of the study of a system correspond to a keen industrial demand. This model allows simultaneous to take into account decisions resulting from the two environments (product and project) but it represents a consequent increase of the search space dimension for the decision-making system, in particular when it concerns a multiobjective optimization. Metaheuristics methods such as evolutionary algorithm are an interesting way to solve this strongly combinative problem. Nevertheless, this problem presents an interesting and unexploited characteristic: It is indeed current to re-use, by adapting them, the components or the procedures previously implemented in pasted product or project. The idea proposed in this work consists in using this “a priori” knowledge available in order to guide the search for new solutions by the evolutionary algorithm. Bayesian network was retained for the interactive modeling of expert knowledge. New evolutionary operators were defined in order to use knowledge contained in the network. Moreover, the system is completed by a process of parametric learning during optimization witch make it possible to adapt the model if guidance does not give good results. The method suggested ensures both a faster and effective optimization, but it also makes it possible to provide to the decision maker a graphic and interactive model of knowledge linked to studied project. An experimental platform was carried out to validate our approach

Amélioration des techniques d'optimisation combinatoire par retour d'expérience dans le cadre de la sélection de scénarios de Produit/Projet

La définition et l utilisation d'un modèle couplant la conception de produit et la conduite du projet dès les phases amont de l étude d un système correspondent à une forte demande industrielle. Ce modèle permet la prise en compte simultanée de décisions issues des deux environnements produit/projet mais il représente une augmentation conséquente de la dimension de l'espace de recherche à explorer pour le système d'aide à la décision, notamment lorsque il s'agit d'une optimisation multiobjectif. Les méthodes de type métaheuristique tel que les algorithmes évolutionnaires, sont une alternative intéressante pour la résolution de ce problème fortement combinatoire. Ce problème présente néanmoins une particularité intéressante et inexploitée : Il est en effet courant de réutiliser, en les adaptant, des composants ou des procédures précédemment mis en œuvre dans les produits/projets antérieurs. L'idée mise en avant dans ce travail consiste à utiliser ces connaissances a priori disponibles afin de guider la recherche de nouvelles solutions par l'algorithme évolutionnaire. Le formalisme des réseaux bayésiens a été retenu pour la modélisation interactive des connaissances expertes. De nouveaux opérateurs évolutionnaires ont été définis afin d'utiliser les connaissances contenues dans le réseau. De plus, le système a été complété par un processus d'apprentissage paramétrique en cours d'optimisation permettant d'adapter le modèle si le guidage ne donne pas de bons résultats. La méthode proposée assure à la fois une optimisation plus rapide et efficace, mais elle permet également de fournir au décideur un modèle de connaissances graphique et interactif associé au projet étudié. Une plateforme expérimentale a été réalisée pour valider notre approche.The definition and use of a model coupling product design and project management in the earliest phase of the study of a system correspond to a keen industrial demand. This model allows simultaneous to take into account decisions resulting from the two environments (product and project) but it represents a consequent increase of the search space dimension for the decision-making system, in particular when it concerns a multiobjective optimization. Metaheuristics methods such as evolutionary algorithm are an interesting way to solve this strongly combinative problem. Nevertheless, this problem presents an interesting and unexploited characteristic: It is indeed current to re-use, by adapting them, the components or the procedures previously implemented in pasted product or project. The idea proposed in this work consists in using this a priori knowledge available in order to guide the search for new solutions by the evolutionary algorithm. Bayesian network was retained for the interactive modeling of expert knowledge. New evolutionary operators were defined in order to use knowledge contained in the network. Moreover, the system is completed by a process of parametric learning during optimization witch make it possible to adapt the model if guidance does not give good results. The method suggested ensures both a faster and effective optimization, but it also makes it possible to provide to the decision maker a graphic and interactive model of knowledge linked to studied project. An experimental platform was carried out to validate our approach.TOULOUSE-INP (315552154) / SudocSudocFranceF