Minimizing weighted tardiness of job-shop scheduling using a hybrid genetic algorithm

Relative to job-shop scheduling problems that optimize makespan or flow time, due-date-related problems are usually much more computationally complex and are classified as strongly NP-hard. In this paper, a hybrid framework integrating a heuristic and a genetic algorithm (GA) is utilized for job-shop scheduling to minimize weighted tardiness. For each new generation of schedules, the GA determines the first operation of each machine, and the heuristic determines the assignment of the remaining operations. Schedules with inferior tardiness are discarded before the next round of evolution. Extensive numerical experiments were conducted for different levels of due-date tightness. The results show that the hybrid framework performs significantly better than does either a heuristic or GA alone. It is also found to be superior to a well-recognized heuristic improvement procedure (lead-time iterations). Specifically, the combination of the R&M heuristic and a GA outperforms a number of heuristics commonly used to minimize total tardiness and weighted total tardiness; this combination is, however, outperformed by the heuristic of Kreipl [Kreipl, S., 2000. A large step random walk for minimizing total weighted tardiness in a job shop. Journal of Scheduling 3, 125–138]. We also develop a generalized hybrid framework that can adapt to different job-shop problems—with or without sequence-dependent setups and with different objectives (e.g., makespan, tardiness, flow time). The new framework allows the interaction of parallel evolutions, extending the GA-heuristic environment to the solving of multi-objective scheduling problems.     

Constraint Handling in Genetic Algorithms: The Set Partitioning Problem

In this paper we present a genetic algorithm-based heuristic for solving the set partitioning problem (SPP). The SPP is an important combinatorial optimisation problem used by many airlines as a mathematical model for flight crew scheduling.A key feature of the SPP is that it is a highly constrained problem, all constraints being equalities. New genetic algorithm (GA) components: separate fitness and unfitness scores, adaptive mutation, matching selection and ranking replacement, are introduced to enable a GA to effectively handle such constraints. These components are generalisable to any GA for constrained problems.We present a steady-state GA in conjunction with a specialised heuristic improvement operator for solving the SPP. The performance of our algorithm is evaluated on a large set of real-world problems. Computational results show that the genetic algorithm-based heuristic is capable of producing high-quality solutions.     

Metaheuristics for scheduling jobs with incompatible families on parallel batching machines

In this paper, we discuss the scheduling of jobs with incompatible families on parallel batching machines. The performance measure is total weighted tardiness. This research is motivated by a scheduling problem found in the diffusion and oxidation areas of semiconductor wafer fabrication where the machines can be modelled as parallel batch processors. Given that this scheduling problem is NP-hard, we suggest an ant colony optimization (ACO) and a variable neighbourhood search (VNS) approach. Both metaheuristics are hybridized with a decomposition heuristic and a local search scheme. We compare the performance of the two algorithms with that of a genetic algorithm (GA) based on extensive computational experiments. The VNS approach outperforms the ACO and GA approach with respect to time and solution quality.     

Hybrid flexible flowshop problems: Models and solution methods

This paper considers the problem of hybrid flowshop scheduling. First, we review the shortcoming of the available model in the literature. Then, four different mathematical models are developed in form of mixed integer linear programming models. A complete experiment is conducted to compare the models for performance based on the size and computational complexities. Besides the models, the paper proposes a novel hybrid particle swarm optimization algorithm equipped with an acceptance criterion and a local search heuristic. The features provide a fine balance of diversification and intensification capabilities for the algorithm. Using Taguchi method, the algorithm is fine tuned. Then, two numerical experiments are performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm with three particle swarm optimization algorithms available in the scheduling literature and one well-known iterated local search algorithm in the hybrid flowshop literature. All the results show the high performance of the proposed algorithm.     

求解混合流水线调度问题的离散人工蜂群算法

本文给出了一种离散的人工蜂群算法(HDABC)用于求解混合流水车间调度(HFS)问题。采用工件排序的编码方式,并设计了四种邻域结构。雇佣蜂依次分派到解集中每个解,采用结合问题特征的局部搜索策略完成挖掘搜索工作。跟随蜂随机选择两个解并挑选较优者作为当前解,完成进一步的探优过程。侦察蜂采用三种策略跳出局部极小。通过34个同构并行机HFS问题和2个异构并行机HFS实际调度问题的实验,并与当前文献中的典型算法对比,验证了本文提出的算法无论在算法时间还是在求解质量上,都具备良好的性能。     

一种求解延迟工件数最小的混合流水车间调度问题的模拟退火算法

针对延迟工件数最小的混合流水车间调度问题,给出了一种改进的模拟退火求解算法. 该算法首先给出一个启发式算法来获得初始解,然后用模拟退火算法对初始解改进. 通过交换工件在第一阶段的排序来获得一个新的解,采用最先空闲设备分配规则和先到先被加工规则,对工件在剩余各级的工序进行调度. 实验仿真表明算法是可行有效的.     

An empirical study of hybrid genetic algorithms for the set covering problem

The purpose of this paper is to explore the computational performance of several hybrid algorithms that are extensions of a basic genetic algorithm (GA) approach for solving the set covering problem (SCP). We start by making several enhancements to a GA for the SCP that was proposed by Beasley and Chu. Next, several hybrid solution approaches are introduced that combine the GA with various local neighbourhood search approaches, with a form of the greedy randomized adaptive search procedure, and with an estimation of distribution algorithms approach. Using Beasley's library of SCPs extensive computational results are generated for the hybrid solution approaches defined in this paper. Statistical analyses of the results are performed.     

预制构件流水车间订单接受与调度的集成优化

针对预制构件生产管理过程中订单工期紧和生产能力不足的问题,在充分考虑中断和不可中断工序,串行和并行工序等复杂工况特点的基础上,以最大化净利润为目标,建立了一种订单接受与调度集成优化模型。鉴于问题的NP难性和模型的高度非线性,通过集成问题性质、构造启发式、邻域搜索和破坏-构造机制,提出了一种混合加速迭代贪婪搜索框架。其中,在调度构造阶段,为提高算法求解质量和搜索效率,设计了两种融合订单插入操作性质的加速构造策略。计算结果显示,与混合遗传禁忌搜索算法,遗传算法以及禁忌搜索算法相比,本文所提算法具有更好的求解质量和搜索效率。同时验证了所提出的加速构造策略能够有效减少算法运行时间。该研究有望显著提高预制生产企业净利润和客户满意度。     

A heuristic approach to a single stage assembly problem with transportation allocation

Determining assembly scheduling and transportation allocation are two practical problems that industries face, such as the electronics and health products industries. Problems associated with assembly scheduling mainly focus on how to determine the orders’ processing sequence on the assembly line in order to minimize the waiting times before they are flown to their destinations. Problems associated with transportation allocation arise in the system of assigning processed orders to transport modes with the purpose of minimizing penalties from earliness and tardiness. To minimize overall delivery costs, businesses should decide on assembly scheduling and transportation allocation decision simultaneously. However, since simultaneously making these two decisions is not an easy task, most of the works done on them usually deal with these two problems separately. Apart from previous works, this paper establishes a mixed integer programming model that deals with these problems simultaneously. Due to the computational complexity of the problem, this paper develops a hybrid heuristic algorithm to solve this problem, and we evaluate the performance of the presented heuristic algorithm with the well-known GAMS/BARON and Lingo commercial software, which tests the heuristic algorithm on randomly-generated problems. The presented heuristic algorithm is shown to perform well compared with well-known commercial software.     

Single-machine total completion time scheduling with a time-dependent deterioration

In this paper, we consider the single-machine scheduling problems with a time-dependent deterioration. By the time-dependent deterioration, we mean that the processing time of a job is defined by an increasing function of total normal processing time of jobs in front of it in the sequence. The objective is to minimize the total completion time. We develop a mixed integer programming formulation for the problem. The complexity status of this problem remains open. Hence, we use the smallest normal processing time (SPT) first rule as a heuristic algorithm for the general cases and analyze its worst-case error bound. Two heuristic algorithms utilize the V-shaped property are also proposed to solve the problem. Computational results are presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms.     

Multiprocessor task scheduling in multistage hybrid flow-shops: a genetic algorithm approach

This paper considers multiprocessor task scheduling in a multistage hybrid flow-shop environment. The objective is to minimize the make-span, that is, the completion time of all the tasks in the last stage. This problem is of practical interest in the textile and process industries. A genetic algorithm (GA) is developed to solve the problem. The GA is tested against a lower bound from the literature as well as against heuristic rules on a test bed comprising 400 problems with up to 100 jobs, 10 stages, and with up to five processors on each stage. For small problems, solutions found by the GA are compared to optimal solutions, which are obtained by total enumeration. For larger problems, optimum solutions are estimated by a statistical prediction technique. Computational results show that the GA is both effective and efficient for the current problem. Test problems are provided in a web site at www.benchmark.ibu.edu.tr/mpt-hfsp.     

基于HGA空间物资存储任务规划方法

针对物流领域物资存储任务规划问题进行研究。本文通过遗传算法（GA）结合启发式规则的思想,得到了在物资存储方面实用性较强的混合遗传算法（HGA）。该算法具备GA的优越性,并基于启发式规则对染色体信息及其组合进行优化和限定,依靠遗传算法的精英保留策略,避免了传统遗传算法常见的早熟收敛。仿真结果表明,该算法所得到的规划方法将不断逼近最优解,这就为三维空间物资存储任务规划提供合理方案,能显著提高效率。     

Heuristics for a two-stage hybrid flowshop scheduling problem with ready times and a product-mix ratio constraint

This paper focuses on the scheduling problem of minimizing makespan for a given set of jobs in a two-stage hybrid flowshop subject to a product-mix ratio constraint. There are identical parallel machines at the first stage of the hybrid flowshop, while there is a single batch-processing machine at the second stage. Ready times of the jobs (at the first stage) may be different, and a given product-mix ratio of job types should be kept in each batch at the second stage. We present three types of heuristic algorithms: forward scheduling algorithms, backward scheduling algorithms, and iterative algorithms. To evaluate performance of the suggested algorithms, a series of computational experiments are performed on randomly generated test problems and results are reported.     

101 Activities for Teaching Creativity and Problem Solving,Arthur B. VanGundy,Pfeiffer, J. Wiley,CA, USA (2004), p. xi + 391, £41.95, ISBN: 0-7879-7402-1

Many web sites (e.g. Hotmail, Yahoo) provide free services to the users while generating revenues from advertising. Advertising revenue is, therefore, critical for these sites. This in turn raises the question, how should advertisements at a web site be scheduled in a planning horizon to maximize revenue. Advertisements on the web are specified by geometry and display frequency and both of these factors need to be considered in developing a solution to the advertisement scheduling problem. Since this problem belongs to the class of NP-hard problems, we first develop a heuristic called LSMF to solve the problem. This heuristic is then combined with a genetic algorithm (GA) to develop a hybrid GA. The hybrid GA solution is first compared with the upper bound obtained by running CPLEX for the integer programming formulation of the problem. It is then also compared with an existing algorithm proposed in the literature. Our computational results show that the hybrid GA performs exceptionally well in the sense that it provides optimal or near optimal solution for a wide range of problem instances of realistic sizes and the improvements over existing algorithm are substantial. Finally we present a case study to illustrate how revenue could be significantly increased with a small improvement in the advertisement schedule. It is the first such study in this setup.     

Scheduling for a multifunction phased array radar system

A multifunction radar is a new, complex, radar system which combines the previously isolated tasks of searching volumes of space, tracking targets and guiding missiles. This study was instigated by the Defence Research Agency who require scheduling rules for their newly developed multifunction radar system. The primary interest when looking at the operational efficiency of this type of radar system is to schedule the radar jobs effectively. These jobs take the form of a coupled task which consists of two distinct operations that require processing in a predetermined order and at a specified interval apart. In the radar scenario, each job is cyclic in nature with its own due date and processing time. The need for an on-line scheduler restricts the radar controller to use heuristic methods. A detailed functional simulation model, which generates a multifunction radar environment, has been developed to aid the evaluation of the various scheduling heuristics that we have proposed.     

Multiple-objective heuristics for scheduling unrelated parallel machines

This research proposes two heuristics and a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to find non-dominated solutions to multiple-objective unrelated parallel machine scheduling problems. Three criteria are of interest, namely: makespan, total weighted completion time, and total weighted tardiness. Each heuristic seeks to simultaneously minimize a pair of these criteria; the GA seeks to simultaneously minimize all three. The computational results show that the proposed heuristics are computationally efficient and provide solutions of reasonable quality. The proposed GA outperforms other algorithms in terms of the number of non-dominated solutions and the quality of its solutions.     

建筑废料现场分拣协调调度优化研究

工程项目施工现场废料分拣的效率对施工进度具有重要的影响。通过分析现场废料分拣实施过程,建立了带有限中间缓冲的混合流水车间调度模型。提出了收集阶段作业排序的动态自适应算法和后续设备分配问题的考虑缓冲区的设备分配规则,在此基础上设计了废料分拣模型的启发式算法,平衡各分区工作量,进一步搜索最优解,并推导了问题的一个低界。实验结果表明,所提出算法能很好地对施工现场废料分拣问题进行求解,具有良好的收敛性和较高的时间效率。     

动态空间调度的混合遗传算法

提出了一种基于混合遗传算法的动态空间调度方法。首先利用遗传算法产生多个可行的分段调度序列,再采用动态决定分段位置的启发式算法——平均最大空闲矩形策略对遗传算法产生的调度序列进行解码。同时以完工时间和平台利用率的加权和作为适应度函数,充分考虑了空间调度问题所特有的动态性和时空关联性。遗传进化过程收敛后得到近似最优解,实现了调度方案的全局优化。对船厂实际生产数据进行了实证分析以及与其它算法的对比分析,证明了所提方法在空间调度问题上的有效性和实用性。     

Integrating particle swarm optimization with genetic algorithms for solving nonlinear optimization problems

Heuristic optimization provides a robust and efficient approach for solving complex real-world problems. The aim of this paper is to introduce a hybrid approach combining two heuristic optimization techniques, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithms (GA). Our approach integrates the merits of both GA and PSO and it has two characteristic features. Firstly, the algorithm is initialized by a set of random particles which travel through the search space. During this travel an evolution of these particles is performed by integrating PSO and GA. Secondly, to restrict velocity of the particles and control it, we introduce a modified constriction factor. Finally, the results of various experimental studies using a suite of multimodal test functions taken from the literature have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed approach to finding the global optimal solution.     

Graph 3-coloring with a hybrid self-adaptive evolutionary algorithm

This paper proposes a hybrid self-adaptive evolutionary algorithm for graph coloring that is hybridized with the following novel elements: heuristic genotype-phenotype mapping, a swap local search heuristic, and a neutral survivor selection operator. This algorithm was compared with the evolutionary algorithm with the SAW method of Eiben et al., the Tabucol algorithm of Hertz and de Werra, and the hybrid evolutionary algorithm of Galinier and Hao. The performance of these algorithms were tested on a test suite consisting of randomly generated 3-colorable graphs of various structural features, such as graph size, type, edge density, and variability in sizes of color classes. Furthermore, the test graphs were generated including the phase transition where the graphs are hard to color. The purpose of the extensive experimental work was threefold: to investigate the behavior of the tested algorithms in the phase transition, to identify what impact hybridization with the DSatur traditional heuristic has on the evolutionary algorithm, and to show how graph structural features influence the performance of the graph-coloring algorithms. The results indicate that the performance of the hybrid self-adaptive evolutionary algorithm is comparable with, or better than, the performance of the hybrid evolutionary algorithm which is one of the best graph-coloring algorithms today. Moreover, the fact that all the considered algorithms performed poorly on flat graphs confirms that graphs of this type are really the hardest to color.