Title: Simultaneous scheduling of machine and tool in automated manufacturing system using genetic algorithm

Authors: T. Prabaharan; N. Jawahar; Balan Sundarakani

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi – 626 005, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai – 625 015, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Faculty of Business and Management, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Block 14, Knowledge Village, P.O. Box 20183, Dubai, UAE

Abstract: Part and tool flows are the two major dynamic entities in the operation of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). They are the key factors and their management plays an important role. The aim of this paper is to consider three off-line scheduling algorithms that generate optimal or near optimal simultaneous machine-tool finite production schedules for the FMS model with makespan criterion. In this context, three heuristics, priority dispatching rule algorithm (PDRA), simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) and genetic algorithm (GA) are proposed to find optimal or near optimal solutions with minimum makespan criterion. The analysis reveals that GA-based heuristic provides an optimal or near optimal solution with reasonable computational time.

Keywords: flexible manufacturing systems; FMS; heuristics; scheduling; priority dispatching rules; simulated annealing; genetic algorithms; GAs; minimum makespan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVCM.2011.043226

International Journal of Value Chain Management, 2011 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.175 - 211

Published online: 26 Mar 2015 *

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