An approach to multi-criteria assembly sequence planning using genetic algorithms

This paper focuses on multi-criteria assembly sequence planning (ASP) known as a large-scale, time-consuming combinatorial problem. Although the ASP problem has been tackled via a variety of optimization techniques, these techniques are often inefficient when applied to larger-scale problems. Genetic algorithm (GA) is the most widely known type of evolutionary computation method, incorporating biological concepts into analytical studies of systems. In this research, an approach is proposed to optimize multi-criteria ASP based on GA. A precedence matrix is proposed to determine feasible assembly sequences that satisfy precedence constraints. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results of comparison in the provided experiment show that the developed algorithm is an efficient approach to solve the ASP problem and can be suitably applied to any kind of ASP with large numbers of components and multi-objective functions.

[1]  Mitsuo Gen,et al.  Genetic algorithms and engineering optimization , 1999 .

[2]  J. H. Liu,et al.  A concurrent hierarchical evolution approach to assembly process planning , 2002 .

[3]  Pradeep K. Khosla,et al.  Determining the assembly sequence from a 3-D model☆ , 1989 .

[4]  Saeid Motavalli,et al.  Multi-criteria assembly sequencing , 1997 .

[5]  Arthur C. Sanderson,et al.  Two criteria for the selection of assembly plans: maximizing the flexibility of sequencing the assembly tasks and minimizing the assembly time through parallel execution of assembly tasks , 1991, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..

[6]  Hyungsuck Cho,et al.  A genetic-algorithm-based approach to the generation of robotic assembly sequences , 1999 .

[7]  Stephen C. Graves,et al.  Using simulated annealing to select least-cost assembly sequences , 1994, Proceedings of the 1994 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

[8]  Yong-Jin Liu,et al.  An adaptive genetic assembly-sequence planner , 2001, Int. J. Comput. Integr. Manuf..

[9]  Michael H. Goldwasser,et al.  AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR GEOMETRIC ASSEMBLY SEQUENCE GENERATION AND EVALUATION , 1995 .

[10]  Arthur C. Sanderson,et al.  A correct and complete algorithm for the generation of mechanical assembly sequences , 1991, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..

[11]  F. Bonneville,et al.  A genetic algorithm to generate and evaluate assembly plans , 1995, Proceedings 1995 INRIA/IEEE Symposium on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation. ETFA'95.

[12]  Jean-Claude Latombe,et al.  Geometric Reasoning About Mechanical Assembly , 1994, Artif. Intell..

[13]  K. Ghosh,et al.  Representation and selection of assembly sequences in computer-aided assembly process planning , 1997 .

[14]  W. S. Lau,et al.  ON THE AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF PRODUCT ASSEMBLY SEQUENCES , 1998 .

[15]  Kazem Abhary,et al.  A genetic algorithm for the optimisation of assembly sequences , 2006, Comput. Ind. Eng..

[16]  Utpal Roy,et al.  Design of an automated assembly environment , 1989 .