Using constraints filtering and evolutionary algorithms for interactive configuration and planning

This communication aims to associate the product configuration task with the planning of its production process in order to make consistent decisions while trying to minimize cost and cycle time. A two step approach is described with relevant aiding tools. During the first one, configuration and planning are considered as two constraint satisfaction problems and are interactively assisted by constraint propagation. The second one, thanks to a multi-criteria optimisation relying on a constrained evolutionary algorithm, proposes a set of solutions belonging to a Pareto front minimizing cost and cycle time to the user. After a problem introduction and a global description of the aiding system, the paper focuses on the optimisation process with interesting quantified results.