Cover of the Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing Soft Computing in Manufacturing, Part II

A Special Issue of the Journal
Intelligent Manufacturing
Vol. xx, No. x, 2002


T. Warren Liao and Evangelos Triantaphyllou
Guest Editors




TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. A Fuzzy Mid-term Single-fab Production Planning Model
    by Toly Chen (See Abstract)


  2. A Case-Based Expert Support System For Due-Date Assignment In A Wafer Fabrication Factory
    by Chaochang Chiu, Pei-Chann Chang, And Nan-Hsing Chiu  (See Abstract)


  3. Modeling and Analysis for Multi-period, Multi-product and Multi-resource Production Scheduling
    by Hsiao-Fan Wang and Kuang-Yao Wu (See Abstract)


  4. Soft Computing For Scheduling With Batch Setup Times And Earliness-Tardiness Penalties On Parallel Machines
    by Y. Yi And D.W. Wang (See Abstract)


  5. Finding Multiple Solutions In Job Shop Scheduling By Niching Genetic Algorithms
    by E. Pérez, F. Herrera, and C. Hernández (See Abstract)

  6. Real Time Fuzzy Scheduling Rules in FMS
    by Felix T. S. Chan, H. K. Chan and A. Kazerooni (See Abstract)

  7. A Modified Genetic Algorithm for Distributed Scheduling Problems
    by
    H.Z. Jia, A.Y.C. Nee, J.Y.H. Fuh and Y.F. Zhang (See Abstract)

  8. A  Problem Space Genetic Algorithm in Multiobjective Optimization
    by
    Ayten Turkcan and  M. Selim Akturk (See Abstract)

  9. Identification of Process Disturbance Using SPC/EPC and Neural Networks
    by Chih-Chou Chiu, Yuehjen E. Shao, Tian-Shyug Lee and Ker-Ming Lee(See Abstract)






ABSTRACTS:

     
  1. A Fuzzy Mid-term Single-fab Production Planning Model

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Toly Chen

    Department of Information Management
    Chaoyang University of Technology,
    Taichung County, Taiwan 413, R. O. C.
    Email: tolychen@ms37.hinet.net


    ABSTRACT:
    Production planning is a complicated task for a semiconductor fabrication plant because of the uncertainties in demand, product prices, cycle times, and product yields. Traditionally, mid-term production planning for a semiconductor fabrication plant is handled with MRP systems or optimized by solving LP or FLP problems. In this study, the philosophy of prioritizing demand classes with higher certainties as proposed by Leachman (1993) is applied to the FLP model of Chen and Wang (1998), and a new FLP model for planning the mid-term production of single wafer fabrication plant is constructed. Parameters in this model are given in the form of trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Fuzzy comparison is adopted in dealing with the fuzzy objective function and expanding inequalities. The outputs are projected using Chen and Wang’s fuzzy dynamic production function. The uncertain demand is classified and satisfied with four successively optimized FLP submodels according to their ascending uncertainties. Chen and Wang’s example is adopted to demonstrate the proposed methodology and to make some comparisons. By moving more capacity to demand classes with higher certainties that are usually nearer and have larger discounted revenues, the proposed methodology achieves a higher value of the discounted cash flows than the two referenced modelstomotive speedometer design case study is included to demonstrate the methodology.

    KEY WORDS: Production planning, fuzzy linear programming, wafer fabrication

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  2. A Case-Based Expert Support System For Due-Date Assignment In A Wafer Fabrication Factory

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Chaochang Chiu1, Pei-Chann Chang2, And Nan-Hsing Chiu1 

    1Department of Information Management, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    2Industrial Engineering and Management, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.

     
    ABSTRACT:
    Owing to the complexity of wafer fabrication, the traditional human approach to assigning due-date is imprecise and very prone to failure, especially when the shop status is dynamically changing. Therefore, assigning a due date to each order becomes a challenge to the production planning and scheduling staff. Since most production orders are similar to those previously manufactured, the case based reasoning (CBR) approach provides a suitable means for solving the due-date assignment problem. This research proposes a CBR approach that employs the k-nearest neighbors concept with dynamic feature weights and non-linear similarity functions.  The test results show that the proposed approach can more accurately predict order due dates than other approaches.

    KEY WORDS: Due-date assignment, genetic algorithms, case-based reasoning

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  3. Modeling and Analysis for Multi-period, Multi-product and Multi-resource Production Scheduling


    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Hsiao-Fan Wang* and Kuang-Yao Wu

    Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. 30043

    ABSTRACT:
    This study presents a framework for solving the multi-period, multi-product and multi-resource production-scheduling (M3PS) problem. Practically, the main concern for an M3PS problem is how to satisfy two management policies:  1) each product is manufactured in a continuous manner so that once the product is on a production line, it will complete its production procedure without interruption, and 2) the number of the product’s types is limited during one period. By defining the decision variables and taking into account the machine’s capacity and the customers’ demand, a mixed integer programming (MIP) Model is formulated. To solve this MIP problem, a two-phase approach is proposed. In phase 1, the search space of the MIP Model is transformed into a preliminary pattern by a heuristic mining algorithm so that a hyper assignment problem can be formed as a reference model to be solved. In phase 2, a stochastic global optimization procedure that incorporates a genetic algorithm with neighborhood search techniques is designed to obtain the optimal solution. A numerical experiment is presented with an illustration, and it shows that the proposed model is adequate to cope with complicate scheduling problems.

    KEY WORDS: Production scheduling; Mixed integer programming; Hybrid Genetic algorithm; Combinatorial optimization; Neighborhood search

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  4. Soft Computing For Scheduling With Batch Setup Times And Earliness-Tardiness Penalties On Parallel Machines

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Y. Yi1 And D.W. Wang2

    1,2 School of Information Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang,
    110006, People’s Republic of China
    E-mail:  1yiyangsat@btamail.net.cn,2dwwang@mail.neu.edu.cn.

    ABSTRACT:
    A model for scheduling grouped jobs on identical parallel machines is addressed in this paper. The model assumes that a set-up time is incurred when a machine changes from processing one type of component to a different type of component, and the objective is to minimize the total earliness-tardiness penalties. In this paper, the algorithm of soft computing, which is a fuzzy logic embedded Genetic Algorithm is developed to solve the problem. The efficiency of this approach is tested on several groups of random problems and shows that the soft computing algorithm has potential for practical applications in larger scale production systems.


    KEY WORDS: soft computing, fuzzy logic, fuzzy decision, genetic algorithm, setup times, scheduling with batch setup times on parallel machines

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  5. Finding Multiple Solutions In Job Shop Scheduling By Niching Genetic Algorithms

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by E. Pérez*, F. Herrera**, and C. Hernández*

    * Industrial Engineering Group
    School of Industrial Engineering
    University of Valladolid
    47011 - Valladolid, Spain ;E:mail:elena, cesareo@eis.uva.es

    ** Dept. of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
    University of Granada
    18071 - Granada, Spain
    E-mail:herrera@decsai.ugr.es


    ABSTRACT:

    The interest in multimodal optimization methods is increasing in the last years. The objective is to find multiple solutions that allow the expert to choose the solution that better adapts to the actual conditions.

    Niching methods extend genetic algorithms to domains that require the identification of multiple solutions. There are different niching genetic algorithms: sharing, clearing, crowding and sequential, etc.

    The aim of this study is to study the applicability and the behavior of several niching genetic algorithms in solving job shop scheduling problems, by establishing a criterion in the use of different methods according to the needs of the expert. We will experiment with different instances of this problem, analyzing the behavior of the algorithms from the efficacy and diversity points of view.



    KEY WORDS: Job shop scheduling problem, multimodal optimization, genetic algorithms, niching methods.

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  6. Real Time Fuzzy Scheduling Rules in FMS

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Felix T. S. Chan1, H. K. Chan1, A. Kazerooni2

    1Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
    University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Phone: (852) 2859 7059; Fax: (852) 2858 6535; e-mail: ftschan@hkucc.hku.hk


    2School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
     University of South Australia, The Levels Campus, Mawson Lakes,SA 5095 Australia

    ABSTRACT:

    This paper presents a real-time fuzzy expert system to scheduling parts for a flexible manufacturing system (FMS).  First, some vagueness and uncertainties in scheduling rules are indicated and then a fuzzy-logic approach is proposed to improve the system performance by considering multiple performance measures.  This approach focuses on characteristics of the system’s status, instead of parts, to assign priorities to the parts waiting to be processed.  Secondly, a simulation model is developed and it has shown that the proposed fuzzy logic-based decision making process keeps all performance measures at a good level.  The proposed approach provides a promising alternative framework in solving scheduling problems in FMSs, in contrast to traditional rules, by making use of intelligent tools.

      KEY WORDS: Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS), fuzzy, expert systems, simulation.

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  7. A Modified Genetic Algorithm for Distributed Scheduling Problems

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by H.Z. Jia, A.Y.C. Nee, J.Y.H. Fuh*, and Y.F. Zhang

    Department of Mechanical Engineering
    National University of Singapore
    10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260
    e-mail: mpefuhyh@nus.edu.sg;  fax: (65) 779-1459


    ABSTRACT:
    Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have been widely applied to the scheduling and sequencing problems due to its applicability to different domains and the capability in obtaining near-optimal results. Many investigated GAs are mainly concentrated on the traditional single factory or single job-shop scheduling problems. However, with the increasing popularity of distributed, or globalized production, the previously used GAs are required to be further explored in order to deal with the newly emerged distributed scheduling problems. In this paper, a modified GA is presented, which is capable of solving traditional scheduling problems as well as distributed scheduling problems. Various scheduling objectives can be achieved including minimizing makespan, cost and weighted multiple criteria. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated with satisfactory results through several classical scheduling benchmarks. Furthermore, the capability of the modified GA was also tested for handling the distributed scheduling problems.  

    KEY WORDS: Genetic Algorithms; Distributed Production; Distributed Scheduling.

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  8. A  Problem Space Genetic Algorithm in Multiobjective Optimization

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Ayten Turkcan and  M. Selim Akturk



    ABSTRACT:


    KEY WORDS:  
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  9. Identification of Process Disturbance Using SPC/EPC and Neural Networks

    Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Vol. xx, No. x, pp. xxx-xxx, 2002.

    by Chih-Chou Chiu1, Yuehjen E. Shao2, Tian-Shyug Lee3 and Ker-Ming Lee4

    1 Institute of Commerce Automation and Management, National Taipei University of
    Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.


    2 Department of Statistics and Information Sciences, Fu-Jen Catholic University
    Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    3 Department of Business Administration, Fu-Jen Catholic University
    Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.


    4 Institute of Applied Statistics, Fu-Jen Catholic University
    Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.


    ABSTRACT:

    Since solely using statistical process control (SPC) and engineering process control (EPC) cannot optimally control the manufacturing process, lots of studies have been devoted to the integrated use of SPC and EPC.  The majority of these studies have reported that the integrated approach has better performance than that by using only SPC or EPC.  Almost all these studies have assumed that the assignable causes of process disturbance can be identified and removed by SPC techniques.  However, these techniques are typically time-consuming and thus make the search hard to implement in practice.  In this paper, the EPC and neural network scheme were integrated in identifying the assignable causes of the underlying disturbance.  For finding the appropriate setup of the networks’ parameters, such as the number of hidden nodes and the suitable input variables, the all-possible-regression selection procedure is applied.  For comparison, two SPC charts, Shewhart and cumulative sum (Cusum) charts were also developed for the same data sets.  As the results reveal, the proposed approaches outperform the other methods and the shift of disturbance can be identified successfully. 

    KEY WORDS:  statistical process control; engineering process control; minimum mean squared error control; neural networks; identification of process disturbance
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