A meta-heuristic based on the Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) for solving Hybrid Flow Shop (HFS) scheduling problem with unrelated parallel machines

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses the hybrid flow shop (HFS) scheduling problem with unrelated parallel machines considering sequence and machine dependent setup times. The performance measurement used in this study is based on minimizing maximum completion time (makespan). Because of the complexity of the problem, a meta-heuristic based on the imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) and the genetic algorithm (GA) has been used. To achieve reliable results, an experimental design has been developed to determine the incidence of the factors in the objective function which is applied in twelve instances. The efficiency of the meta-heuristic is compared with a model of mixed-integer programming validated in GAMS. The results of the study reveal that the meta-heuristic obtains equal or better solutions than those of the exact method for half of the instances.

KEYWORDS:

• Meta-heuristic
• genetic algorithm
• makespan
• flow shop
• competitive imperialist
• Algorithm

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Edwin A. Garavito-Hernández

Edwin A. Garavito-Hernández is an associate professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Business at Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. He received his M.Sc. degree from Universidad de Puerto Rico – Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, and the Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. His research interests include modeling and simulation, operational research, discrete optimization, logistics and manufacturing systems.

Eliana Peña-Tibaduiza

Eliana Peña-Tibaduiza is an assistant professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Business at Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. She is currently pursuing Ph.D. in the Department of Industrial and System Engineering at Auburn University, United States. She received her master degree and bachelor degree on Industrial Engineering from Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. Her research interests include operations research, implementation of metaheuristics algorithms for systems optimization, and facility layout planning.

Luis E. Perez-Figueredo

Luis E. Perez-Figueredo is currently project manager of “Fábricas de Productividad-capítulo Oriente”, the Colombia’s goverment strategy to improve the productivity of small, medium and large companies. He received his bachelor degree on Industrial Engineering and his postgraduate as a project management specialist from Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. His research interest includes project management, operation research and production systems.

Eslendis Moratto-Chimenty

Eslendis Moratto-Chimenty is currently administrative in Construcciones Espejo Feria, Spain. She received in 2016 her bachelor degree on Industrial Engineering from Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. Her research interest includes quality systems and production systems.