This study presents a Reinforcement Learning (RL)-assisted Genetic Algorithm (GA) framework for the Multi-Objective Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (MOCVRPTW). In this problem, a set of homogeneous vehicles depart from a depot, visit all customers exactly once, and return back to the depot. The routes of the vehicles are constructed by considering three objectives: minimizing the total travel time, minimizing the number of vehicles, and maximizing the satisfaction obtained from the customers who are visited within their time windows. We propose using an NSGA-II-based approach that is assisted by Q-learning-based operator selection methods for this problem. Unlike traditional GAs that use fixed operators, the proposed approach enables learning-based selection of each operator (crossover and mutation) considering the current performance of solutions. We make tests with five different Q-learning-based operator selection strategies and compare their results to using fixed or randomly selected operators by nonparametric statistical methods. The results show that all Q-learning-based operator selection strategies outperform the fixed-operator approach, whereas the random selection strategy is outperformed by four. In addition, when the best operator for each state of solutions is found considering all solution approaches and used in NSGA-II throughout the algorithm, it consistently results in the best performance among all. Overall, the results demonstrate that the proposed RL-supported GA framework provides a competitive alternative in terms of Pareto-front solution quality for MOCVRPTW, and learning-based operator selection can be an effective mechanism for adaptively controlling the evolutionary search process.

This study investigates the mixed-model two-sided U-type assembly line balancing (MMTsUtALB) problem and proposes a hybrid solution approach based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS). Unlike existing studies on two-sided U-type assembly line balancing (TsUtALB), the mixed-model structure is explicitly considered. In the proposed approach, GA is used to explore the solution space through evolutionary operators, while VNS is applied as a local improvement procedure to refine promising solutions and improve convergence. A problem-oriented priority rule–based encoding method is adopted to represent solutions, which are transformed into feasible two-sided U-type assembly line configurations using a decoding-based task assignment procedure. This structure allows the algorithm to balance diversification and intensification during the search process. The effectiveness of the GA–VNS hybrid algorithm is evaluated using benchmark test problems. Since this study represents the first attempt to solve the MMTsUtALB problem, the obtained results are compared with closely related mixed-model two-sided assembly line balancing studies. Computational results show that GA–VNS achieves competitive performance, particularly for larger instances, by reducing the number of stations and positions with lower computational times than SA and PSO.

Dry bulk river–sea intermodal transport is a critical consideration when connecting inland waterways and oceanic shipping, yet its efficiency hinges on precise vessel arrival time matching. The challenge of vessel arrival time matching has been exacerbated by existing research gaps. Current studies often focus on single vessel types or static scenarios, lacking integrated optimization of dynamic coordination between sea-going and river vessels, and failing to unify time and cost objectives. To address this, we develop a multiobjective scheduling model incorporating real-time arrival data from the dry bulk river–sea intermodal information platform to minimize total port time and operational costs. A heuristic genetic algorithm with adaptive weight adjustment (λ) is designed, achieving convergence within 200 iterations and a solution time of 33 seconds. This algorithm is validated under balanced conditions (λ=0.5) and is shown to yield 108.53 hours of total port time and 278,165.2 yuan in operational costs. Sensitivity analysis reveals a significant tradeoff: λ is reduced from 0.9 to 0.1, leading to an increase in port time by 1.42% but a reduction in costs of 3.03%. This reflects an improved flexibility in cost optimization as a result of resource manipulability. In contrast, port time is constrained by physical limits, such as loading/unloading efficiency. The framework developed provides practical decisional support for ports, with higher λ values (0.7–0.9) enabling rapid turnover in congestion and lower values (0.1–0.3) prioritizing cost economy. Future work should extend this approach to stochastic environments and incorporate multistakeholder coordination using game theory approaches.

Landslide prediction is a critical task for ensuring public safety and preventing economic loss in regions prone to such natural disasters. Traditional models for landslide prediction often lack accuracy and precision because of the intricate interactions between various factors that lead to landslide events. To tackle this issue, we introduce an innovative hybrid approach for landslide prediction that combines Time Series Analysis (TSA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). TSA decomposes landslide displacement data into trend, seasonal, and residual components, improving the clarity of the data. GA optimizes the hyperparameters of SVM, ensuring the most effective application of the SVM. Finally, the SVM is trained on detrended data, producing a model capable of accurately predicting future landslides. Our experimental outcomes manifest that the TSA-GA-SVM model we advanced performs far better than the individual TSA and SVM models when it comes to forecasting landslide displacement. The hybrid model achieved a mean absolute error of 0.15 m compared to 0.42 m for TSA and 0.38 m for SVM alone. Sensitivity analysis revealed that increasing GA population size improved model stability, while higher mutation rates led to more variable predictions. The model showed good generalization ability, performing well across different regions and under various geological and hydrological conditions. This research not only advances the state of the art in landslide prediction but also provides a practical tool for authorities to implement in their disaster prevention and management strategies.

As Industry 4.0 continues to transform the manufacturing domain, the focus is shifting towards mass personalization of products, enabling companies to efficiently produce customized goods that meet individual customers’ unique needs and preferences. This requires manufacturing enterprises to be flexible and adaptable with their scheduling processes and manufacturing setup. Flexibility and subsequent realization of personalization of products can be realized by utilizing the notion of a Line-less Assembly System (LAS), which replaces a fixed conveyor system with a system in which the products move between machines, with products being fitted on Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to transport the products from one machine to another as per their production routing. This necessitates scheduling products as per their production routing on available AMRs to reap the benefits of LAS, which is viewed as a Job Shop Scheduling Problem (JSSP) to maximize resource utilization while adhering to constraints. The novelty of this approach is that, in addition to scheduling products, it also considers the scheduling of AMRs. A mathematical formulation to solve the deterministic JSSP is presented in the current work. The formulation is solved for various inputs using a mathematical solver. In general, JSSPs are NP-hard problems. Subsequently, a meta-heuristic-based Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been constructed to solve the JSSP. The solutions obtained through both GA and mathematical solver are compared, and it was found that GA performs well in computation and optimization efficiencies.

With a decentral and global economy, distributed scheduling problems are getting a lot of attention. This paper addresses a distributed flexible job shop scheduling problem (DFJSP) with minimizing makespan, in which three subproblems, namely operations sequencing, factory selection and machine selection must be determined. To solve the DFJSP, a novel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is first developed, which can solve the small-scaled instances to optimality. Since the NP-hard characteristic of DFJSP, a hybrid algorithm (GA-VNS-CP) of genetic algorithm (GA), variable neighborhood search (VNS) and constraint programming (CP). Specifically, the GA-VNS-CP is divided into two stages. The first stage uses the hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms of GA and VNS (GA-VNS), and the VNS is designed to improve the local search ability of GA. In GA-VNS, the encoding only considers the factory selection and the operations sequencing problems, and the machine selection problem is determined by the decoding rule. Because the solution space may be limited by the decoding rule, the second stage uses the CP to extend the solution and further improve the solution. Numerical experiments based on benchmark instances are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the MILP model, VNS, CP and GA-VNS-CP. The experimental results show effectiveness of the MILP model, VNS and CP. Moreover, the GA-VNS-CP algorithm has better performance than traditional algorithms and improves 6 current best solutions for benchmark instances

In this paper, an electric vehicle routing problem with time windows and under travel time uncertainty (U-EVRW) is addressed. The U-EVRW aims to find the optimal proactive routing plan of the electric vehicles under the travel time uncertainty during the route of the vehicles which is rarely studied in the literature. Furthermore, customer time windows, limited loading capacities and limited battery capacities constraints are also incorporated. A new mixed integer programming (MIP) model is formulated for the proposed U-EVRW. In addition to the commercial CPLEX Optimizer version 20.1.0, a modified Clustering Search based Genetic algorithm (MCSGA) is developed as a solution method. Numerical tests are conducted on the one hand to validate the effectiveness of the proposed MCSGA and on the other hand to analyze the impact of travel time uncertainty of the electric vehicle on the solutions quality.

This paper investigates a novel problem concerning material delivery in a matrix manufacturing workshop, specifically the multi-automated guided vehicle (AGV) dispatching problem with unloading setup time (MAGVDUST). The objective of the problem is to minimize transportation costs, including travel costs, time penalty costs, AGV costs, and unloading setup time costs. To solve the MAGVDUST, this paper builds a mixed-integer linear programming model and proposes an improved genetic algorithm (IGA). In the IGA, an improved nearest-neighbor-based heuristic is proposed to generate a high-quality initial solution. Several advanced technologies are developed to balance local exploitation and global exploration of the algorithm, including an optimal solution preservation strategy in the selection process, two well-designed crossovers in the crossover process, and a mutation based on Partially Mapped Crossover strategy in the mutation process. In conclusion, the proposed algorithm has been thoroughly evaluated on 110 instances from an actual electronic factory and has demonstrated its superior performance compared to state-of-the-art algorithms in the existing literature.

Hybrid laminated composites, integrating High Strength (HS) carbon and glass fibers (E, S) within an epoxy matrix, deliver an optimal compromise between lightweight design, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness for applications in industrial, aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering sectors. This study presents a three-dimensional optimization of mechanical performance through a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) under static loading conditions. The design variables encompass the number of plies (6 to 12), fiber orientation angles (-90°≤ θ ≤90°), and ply materials: HS-Carbon/Epoxy (CF-EP), E-Glass/Epoxy (EG-EP) and S-Glass/Epoxy (SG-EP). A constraint mandating 25% CF-EP placement at the core to maximize stiffness while minimizing stresses. The objectives are to enhance the longitudinal modulus (Ex) and reduce von-Mises stress, while ensuring compliance with the Tsai-Wu failure criterion. An analytical model, implemented in MATLAB, incorporates stiffness matrices, Tsai-Wu failure indices, and von-Mises stress calculations, demonstrating a 30% increase in stiffness and effective mitigation of stress concentrations through centralized CF-EP placement. These findings are corroborated by finite element method (FEM) simulations conducted in ANSYS, which exhibit strong agreement with analytical predictions. This hybrid methodology offers a strong framework for developing high-performance laminated composites, significantly impacting applications requiring structural reliability and efficiency.

Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is important in the transportation and logistics industries. Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window (VRPTW) is a kind of VRP with the additional time windows constraint in the model and is classified as an NP-hard problem. In this study, we proposed Stas crossover in Genetic Algorithm (GA) to solve VRPTW by developing the problem with K-mean clustering. The experiments use the standard Solomon’s benchmark problem instances for VRPTW. The results with K-mean clustering are shown to perform better for minimum distance and average distance than without K-mean clustering. In the case of location and dispersion characteristics of the customer, the paths with K-mean clustering are arranged into groups and are orderly, but the paths without K-mean clustering are disordered. After that, this paper shows the comparison of the crossover operator performance on instances of Solomon benchmark, and appropriate crossover operators are recommended for each type of problem. The results of the proposed algorithm are better than the best-known solutions from the previous studies for some instances. Moreover, our proposed research will serve as a guideline for a real-world case study.