PCB assembly optimisation using the Bees Algorithm enhanced with TRIZ operators

This paper describes an application of the Bees Algorithm with new operators inspired by the TRIZ methodology to optimise assembly sequences for a printed-circuit board (PCB) assembly machine. The specific problem investigated is the assembly of PCBs using a machine of the moving-board-with-time-delay type. The results obtained using the Bees Algorithm with the TRIZ-inspired operators are found to be better than those by other algorithms from the literature including the original Bees Algorithm.