Title: A heuristic approach to scheduling jobs in machining centres equipped with automated pallet changers

Authors: Ali Diabat; Omar Al-Araidah; Imad Alsyouf; Camilla Duh

Addresses: Engineering Systems and Management, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE. ' Industrial Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. ' Production Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering Department, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden. ' Production Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering Department, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden

Abstract: We present a heuristic algorithm for scheduling jobs in a machining centre equipped with multiple-pallet automated pallet changers (APCs). The algorithm dynamically adjusts the number of pallets used and the priority of each job to minimise the total weighted tardiness. The algorithm was evaluated based on a study conducted at Växjöfabriken, a metal-casting company located in Växjö, Sweden. Results obtained from this study show more than a 40% reduction in the total weighted tardiness of the overall machining park.

Keywords: machining centres; automated pallet changers; APC; scheduling; weighted tardiness; pallet changing; Sweden.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2011.045447

International Journal of Advanced Operations Management, 2011 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.326 - 336

Received: 22 Dec 2010
Accepted: 07 Jan 2011

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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