On the batch scheduling problem in steel plants based on ant colony algorithm

Abstract

The continuous casting direct hot charge rolling (CC-DHCR) process is widely used by steel plants. This process is also put forward higher requirements for batch scheduling, especially in continuous casting-hot rolling stage. For this reason, an integrated production model is established about batch scheduling. With the objective of minimizing the production cost, the model satisfies three procedures constraints in steelmaking, continuous casting and hot-rolling. Then, coordination grouping ant colony is used to solve the model. Using practical production data in the experimental simulation, optimization effect and effective combination batches are obtained. It shows that the algorithm is feasibility and effectiveness for the batch scheduling problem. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.