Dynamic Scheduling in Identical Parallel-Machine Environments: A Multi-Purpose Intelligent Utility Approach

This paper presents a robust and adaptable framework for predictive–reactive rescheduling in identical parallel-machine environments. The proposed Multi-Purpose Intelligent Utility (MIU) methodology utilizes heuristic methods to efficiently address the computational challenges associated with NP-hard scheduling problems. By incorporating 13 diverse dispatching rules, the MIU framework provides a flexible and adaptive approach to balancing critical production objectives. It effectively minimizes total weighted tardiness and the number of tardy jobs while maintaining key performance metrics like stability, robustness, and nervousness. In dynamic manufacturing environments, schedule congestion and unforeseen disruptions often lead to inefficiencies and delays. Unlike traditional event-driven approaches, MIU adopts a periodic rescheduling strategy, enabling proactive adaptation to evolving production conditions. Comprehensive rescheduling ensures system-wide adjustments to disruptions, such as stochastic changes in processing times and rework requirements, without sacrificing overall performance. Empirical evaluations show that MIU significantly outperforms conventional methods, reducing total weighted tardiness by 50% and the number of tardy jobs by 27% on average across various scenarios. Furthermore, this study introduces novel quantifications for nervousness, expanding the scope of stability and robustness evaluations in scheduling research. This work contributes to the ongoing discourse on scheduling methodologies by bridging theoretical research with practical industrial applications, particularly in high-stakes production settings. By addressing the trade-offs between improving the objective function or improving the rescheduling performance, MIU provides a comprehensive solution framework that enhances operational performance and adaptability in complex manufacturing environments.