This proof-of-concept study provides a novel method for robust-stable scheduling in dynamic flow shops based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) implemented with OpenAI frameworks. In realistic manufacturing environments, dynamic events endanger baseline schedules, which can require a cost...

This proof-of-concept study provides a novel method for robust-stable scheduling in dynamic flow shops based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) implemented with OpenAI frameworks. In realistic manufacturing environments, dynamic events endanger baseline schedules, which can require a cost...

A data envelopment analysis (DEA) is presented to assess evolutions of firm efficiency and financial performance in automotive supply chains. A sample of 32 decision-making units (DMUs), 17 globally operating original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and 15 key suppliers from the automotive...

Containment measures of COVID-19 have generated a chain of supply and demand shocks around the globe with heterogeneous fallout across industries and countries. We quantify their transmission via foreign trade with a focus on the euro area where deep firms integration within regional supply...

This research evaluates reconfiguration opportunities in Pharmaceutical Supply Chains (PSC) resulting from technology interventions in manufacturing, and new, more patient-centric delivery models. A critical synthesis of the academic and practice literature is used to identify, conceptualise,...

In this paper, teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) is proposed to solve flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP) based on the integrated approach with an objective to minimize makespan. An FJSP is an extension of basic job-shop scheduling problem. There are two sub problems in FJSP....

Quadratic assignment problem (QAP) is a well-known problem in the facility location and layout. It belongs to the NP-complete class. There are many heuristic and meta-heuristic methods, which are presented for QAP in the literature. In this paper, we applied 2-opt, greedy 2-opt, 3-opt, greedy...

This paper draws on the 'human reliability' concept as a structure for gaining insight into the maintenance workforce assessment in a process industry. Human reliability hinges on developing the reliability of humans to a threshold that guides the maintenance workforce to execute accurate...

Flexible flow shop (or a hybrid flow shop) scheduling problem is an extension of classical flow shop scheduling problem. In a simple flow shop configuration, a job having 'g' operations is performed on 'g' operation centres (stages) with each stage having only one machine. If any stage contains...

In this paper, a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm, based on imperialistic competition algorithm (ICA), harmony search (HS), and simulated annealing (SA) is presented. The body of the proposed hybrid algorithm is based on ICA. The proposed hybrid algorithm inherits the advantages of the process of...