Hybrid discrete harmony search algorithm for scheduling re-processing problem in remanufacturing

This paper proposes a hybrid discrete harmony search algorithm for solving the re-processing scheduling problem in pump remanufacturing. The process of pump remanufacturing and the scheduling problem of re-processing for pump subassembly are modeled. An experience based strategy is proposed for solving the unpredictability of subassembly re-processing time in remanufacturing. Hybrid discrete harmony search algorithm and local search are employed for scheduling re-processing of pump subassembly. The objectives of pump subassembly re-processing scheduling are minimization of the maximum completion time (makespan), and the mean of earliness and tardiness (E/T). These objectives are considered individually as well as together as a multi-objective problem. Computational experiments are carried out using real data from a pump remanufacturing enterprise. Computational results show that the objectives makespan and E/T can be optimized and the resulting schedules can be used in practice.