A multistage flow shop scheduling problem with parallel machines: A Simulated Annealing approach

Production scheduling is a critical aspect of the production stage that have a tremendous effect on the long-term success of any business involve in manufacturing. It helps to make sure that the company maximize their profit and meet customer satisfaction by minimizing the cost and production time, ensuring efficient materials usage as well as reduce delays and interruptions. This article examines a case study in a fabric manufacturing company that is facing with an orders fulfillment problem. By formulating a mathematical model that addresses the practical production scenario, we consider a multistage flowshop scheduling problem with parallel machine at each stage. The objective is to minimize the total tardines of the orders produced. The simulated annealing (SA) technique is suggested as a solution to the problem at hand, ensuring a practical execution duration. The algorithm generates a Gantt chart detailing the allocation of orders to machines. Finally, the optimized solution is benchmarked against the company's historical data for result validation.