Improved multi-objective cuckoo search algorithm with novel search strategies for point-to-point part feeding scheduling problems of automotive assembly lines

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the part feeding scheduling problem with electric vehicles (EVs) for automotive assembly lines. A point-to-point part feeding model has been formulated to minimize the number of EVs and the maximum handling time by specifying the EVs and sequence of all the delivery tasks. Design/methodology/approach First, a mathematical programming model of point-to-point part feeding scheduling problem (PTPPFSP) with EVs is presented. Because the PTPPFSP is NP-hard, an improved multi-objective cuckoo search (IMCS) algorithm is developed with novel search strategies, possessing the self-adaptive Levy flights, the Gaussian mutation and elite selection strategy to strengthen the algorithm’s optimization performance. In addition, two local search operators are designed for deep optimization. The effectiveness of the IMCS algorithm is verified by dealing with the PTPPFSP in different problem scales. Findings Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate how the IMCS algorithm serves as an efficient method to solve the PTPPFSP with EVs. The effectiveness and feasibility of the IMCS algorithm are validated by approximate Pareto fronts obtained from the instances of different problem scales. The computational results show that the IMCS algorithm can achieve better performance than the other high-performing algorithms in terms of solution quality, convergence and diversity. Research limitations/implications This study is applicable without regard to the breakdown of EVs. The current research contributes to the scheduling of in-plant logistics for automotive assembly lines, and it could be modified to cope with similar part feeding scheduling problems characterized by just-in-time (JIT) delivery. Originality/value Both limited electricity capacity and no earliness and tardiness constraints are considered, and the scheduling problem is solved satisfactorily and innovatively for an efficient JIT part feeding with EVs applied to in-plant logistics.