Manufacturing Task Scheduling Optimization with Buffer Zones using Parallel Advantage Actor-Critic Algorithm

With the diversification of market demands and the limited availability of production resources, optimizing the allocation of manufacturing tasks within the constraints of limited workstation resources becomes increasingly important. This study explores the workstation buffer zone disassembly-assembly line balancing problem, aiming to improve the operational area of workstations and reduce component transportation costs. Based on the characteristics of the problem, a computational model is developed to maximize the recovery profit. To facilitate the search for an optimal solution, the parallel advantage actor-critic (PA2C) algorithm is used to address this problem, and the feasibility of the developed approach in disassembly and assembly lines is analyzed. Comparisons with AC and the original A2C suggest the competitive performance of the proposed solution.