Job rotation scheduling in the Seru system: shake enforced invasive weed optimization approach
ISSN: 0144-5154
Article publication date: 4 February 2020
Issue publication date: 12 May 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Line–cell conversion and rotation of operators between cells are common in lean production systems. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide an integrated look at these two practices through integrating job rotation scheduling and line-cell conversion problems, as well as investigating the effect of rotation frequency on flow time of a Seru system.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a nonlinear integer programming model of job rotation scheduling problem and line–cell conversion problem (Seru-JRSP) was presented. Then, because Seru-JRSP is NP-hard, an efficient and effective invasive weed optimization (IWO) algorithm was developed. Exploration process of IWO was enhanced by enforcing two shake mechanisms.
Findings
Computations of various sample problems showed shorter flow time and less number of assigned operators in a Seru system scheduled through job rotation. Also, nonlinear behavior of flow time versus number of rotation periods was shown. It was demonstrated that, setting number of rotation frequency to one in line with the literature leads to inferior flow time. In addition, ability of developed algorithm to generate clusters of equivalent solutions in terms of flow time was shown.
Originality/value
In this research, integration of job rotation scheduling and line–cell conversion problems was introduced, considering lack of an integrated look at these two practices in the literature. In addition, a new improved IWO equipped with shake enforcement was introduced.
Keywords
Citation
Ayough, A., Hosseinzadeh, M. and Motameni, A. (2020), "Job rotation scheduling in the Seru system: shake enforced invasive weed optimization approach", Assembly Automation, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 461-474. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-07-2019-0126
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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