Hybrid self-adaptive biobjective optimization of multiple robot scheduling problem for mixed-model assembly lines considering energy savings

Abstract

With the wide application of robots in the material distribution process on the assembly lines, single robot scheduling cannot meet the actual production needs. However, the high degree of mechanization also brings about environmental problems. Therefore, this article aims to develop a scheduling methodology to accomplish material supply tasks using multiple robots with energy consumption consideration. Meanwhile, a targeted mathematical model to minimize total weighted penalty costs and total energy consumption is developed. Due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, an adaptive hybrid mutation population extremal optimization multi-objective algorithm based on uniform distribution selection is proposed to solve multi-objective problems. Furthermore, a new coding method for initialization is designed to optimize the whole iterative process. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by comparing with three benchmark multi-objective algorithms. Computational experiments are represented to prove the validity and feasibility of the proposed algorithm.

Dynamic cyclic kitting part-feeding scheduling for mixed-model assembly line by a hybrid quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization

“…Moreover, the concept of “supermarket” was proposed, which serves as several decentralized areas storing parts for the end products. The supermarkets not only managed to control the level of work-in-process inventory but also made frequent JIT delivery possible (Zhou and Fei, 2021). Consequently, such delivery system applying supermarkets was extensively studied by fellow research (Faccio et al , 2013; Boysen and Emde, 2014; Fathi et al , 2014; Zhou and Shen, 2018; Zhou and Zhao, 2021) to name a few.…”

“…To address the part-feeding problem, the traditional part-feeding policies: kitting and line stocking (Sali et al , 2015) are extensively studied concerning the following topics: the system designing (Kilic and Durmusoglu, 2012), their advantages and disadvantages (Hua and Johnson, 2010; Limère et al , 2012), the handling equipment selection (Yilmaz et al , 2017) and the optimal choice with comparison (Zangaro et al , 2021; Hanson and Brolin, 2013) between them. Moreover, apart from exclusively applying single policy, hybrid policies are proposed (Zhou and Fei, 2021; Faccio et al , 2013; Fathi et al , 2016), owning to the deficiencies of either two traditional policies (Karadayi Usta et al , 2017). Among them, the supermarkets, which serves as several decentralized areas storing parts for end products (Battini et al , 2015), was proven not only capable of controlling the level of work-in-process inventory but also made frequent and just-in-time (JIT) delivery possible (Zhou and Fei, 2021).…”

“…Moreover, apart from exclusively applying single policy, hybrid policies are proposed (Zhou and Fei, 2021; Faccio et al , 2013; Fathi et al , 2016), owning to the deficiencies of either two traditional policies (Karadayi Usta et al , 2017). Among them, the supermarkets, which serves as several decentralized areas storing parts for end products (Battini et al , 2015), was proven not only capable of controlling the level of work-in-process inventory but also made frequent and just-in-time (JIT) delivery possible (Zhou and Fei, 2021). Therefore, the supermarkets are introduced to the part-feeding system in this article.…”