An improved firefly algorithm for collaborative manufacturing chain optimization problem

In order to conduct resource sharing and deployment in cloud manufacturing environment, a concept of collaborative manufacturing chain was proposed. Based on machining tasks with the sequential characteristics, the proposed model considering the criteria of service cost, service time, service quality and service utilization was constructed. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process was adopted to add the above multi-criteria model to a single objective problem. Then, an improved firefly algorithm was used to solve a reasonable collaborative manufacturing chain scheme. Based on the discrete characteristics of the collaborative manufacturing chain, iterative position function was improved to make the solution space to be a discrete domain. Furthermore, particle swarm optimization was used to optimize the step length factor alpha, attraction degree beta(0) and light absorption coefficient gamma so as to prevent the firefly algorithm from local optimum. Compared with the genetic algorithm, numerical result suggests that the improved firefly algorithm has more advantages in convergence speed and solving efficiency. It is expected that this study can provide a useful reference for the service composition of collaborative manufacturing chain.