High-mix low-volume flow shop manufacturing system scheduling

Abstract

The paper deals with the production scheduling optimization in High-Mix Low-Volume (HMLV) flow shop manufacturing system. Three new heuristic production scheduling algorithms balancing the machines assignment to the production orders are proposed. The goal of the algorithms is to find a production schedule that minimizes the total production time of the set of jobs - makespan. An example case study, where the proposed scheduling algorithms are verified and compared with basic solutions using the simulation model of the HMLV manufacturing system created in Witness simulation software, is presented. © 2012 IFAC.