An improved cuckoo search algorithm for the hybrid flow-shop scheduling problem in sand casting enterprises considering batch processing

Abstract

To solve the hybrid flow-shop scheduling problem in sand casting enterprises with multivariate and multistage production characteristics, an improved cuckoo algorithm was developed. First, considering the “single-batch” coupling relationship in the production process, a single-layer coding rule based on the sorting of casting category numbers was designed, and the corresponding decoding mechanism was designed in the batch stage and single-piece processing stage. Second, crossover and mutation operations were introduced to replace the long and short flight strategies, which can improve the search ability of the cuckoo algorithm. In addition, the strategy of separating superior and inferior populations was applied to accelerate the evolution of the population. Finally, the values of the algorithm parameters were optimized by conducting orthogonal experiments, and the rationality of the scheduling model and the superiority of the improved algorithm were verified through simulations.