An Effective Memetic Algorithm for the Distributed Integrated Scheduling of Tree-Structured Products

Abstract

Aiming at the distributed integrated scheduling of complex products with tree structure, a memetic algorithm-based distributed integrated scheduling algorithm is proposed. Based on the framework of the memetic algorithm, the algorithm uses a distributed estimation algorithm for global search and performs a local search strategy based on the critical operation set for the current optimal solution obtained in each evolutionary generation. A bi-chain-based individual representation method is presented and a simple greedy insertion-based decoding method is given; two position-based probability models are built, which are used to describe the distribution of the operation priority and factory assignment, respectively. Based on the designed probability models, two learning-based updating mechanisms and an improved sampling method are given, which ensures that the population evolves towards a promising region. In order to enhance the searchability for the superior solutions, nine disturbance operators based on the critical operation set are presented. The parameters are determined by the design-of-experiment (DOE) test, and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by comparative experiments.