Abstract
In this paper, optimization algorithms are used to solve a batch assignment problem of parallel processing furnaces in American Glass Products (AGP), a world leader company in the design and manufacturing of curved armored glass for transportation purposes. The problem consists in optimizing the bending process, which is considered to be the bottleneck workstation in the armored glasses production line in AGP. The objective is to maximize the efficiency of the furnaces and minimize the tardiness delivery of orders. Due to the complexity and constraints of the problem, we developed a proper dispatch algorithm and a Tabu search technique. The results are encouraging: the indicators of furnace usage hours and tardiness delivery improved by 32 % and 7 %, respectively compared to the decisions made in the plant during an actual production week. This work was the winner of an operation research challenge between around 100 graduate students. The challenge was organized by Javeriana University and AGP.
Highlights
IntroductionThe problem of batch assignment is critical. It directly impacts the delay to deliver the finished product, affecting the costs and the profits
On an industrial level, the problem of batch assignment is critical
We developed a software that processes the initial data of the problem and finds the programming of the production in a planning horizon of 1 week in American Glass Products (AGP)
Summary
The problem of batch assignment is critical. It directly impacts the delay to deliver the finished product, affecting the costs and the profits. The problem addressed in this document focuses on the bending phase, which is critical for AGP because of its complexity, required time, constrained capacity, and the number of furnaces available for processing. The effect of temperature gives them the required curved shape In this phase, batches (groups of pieces with similar characteristics), are put into the furnaces. The problem is assumed to be feasible as long as the total processing time of the batches assigned to a furnace is less than its capacity. Specific characteristics of the glass pieces need to be considered (piece width, piece class, and piece ballistic level), as well as compatibility constraints between them for the creation of batches; that means, only pieces with similar processing characteristics could be assigned to the same batch. The detailed explanation of these methods will be further addressed in this document
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