A novel and efficient mathematical optimization model for multi-stage assembly flow shop considering post-processing

We addressed the multistage assembly flow shop problem with post-processing and makespan minimization, a production environment commonly encountered in diverse industries such as automotive, dental, medical equipment, and clothing manufacturing. In this context, we presented an innovative mixed-integer linear programming model with a position-based strategy. Our proposed formulation demonstrated remarkable efficiency when compared to the model of the literature. It achieved optimal solutions in 77.16% of instances, with an average optimality gap of 10.59%. This study constitutes a significant contribution to the efficient resolution of a practical and frequently encountered scheduling problem that has received relatively limited attention in existing literature. The findings highlight the crucial role of mathematical optimization models as valuable decision-making tools for scheduling within the addressed production system.