A simulation-based optimization heuristic using self-organization for complex assembly lines

Our paper deals with the scheduling of complex assembly lines with a focus on Job Shop Scheduling Problems that exhibit several assembly specific characteristics: many isolated project networks with precedence constraints and thousands of jobs, time bound requirements for jobs and projects, limited resources with individual scheduling and resource lock rules. Formally it is defined as a Multi-Mode Resource-constrained Multi-Project Scheduling Problem with splitting activities. Problems that display these characteristics are often difficult to solve with classical scheduling approaches within acceptable runtime. Simulation-Based Optimization offers an auspicious manner of dealing with those domain specific problems. Using this approach we present a decentralized heuristic evident in self-organization in nature. Typical algorithms attempt to solve the above problems globally. In our solution, the jobs of the network take over the active role. They communicate with their neighbors and the allocated resources, each having the local goal to optimize their own situation.