An Ant Optimization Model for Unrelated Parallel Machine Scheduling with Energy Consumption and Total Tardiness

Abstract

This research considers an unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem with energy consumption and total tardiness. This problem is compounded by two challenges: differences of unrelated parallel machines energy consumption and interaction between job assignments and machine state operations. To begin with, we establish a mathematical model for this problem. Then an ant optimization algorithm based on ATC heuristic rule (ATC-ACO) is presented. Furthermore, optimal parameters of proposed algorithm are defined via Taguchi methods for generating test data. Finally, comparative experiments indicate the proposed ATC-ACO algorithm has better performance on minimizing energy consumption as well as total tardiness and the modified ATC heuristic rule is more effectively on reducing energy consumption.