A heuristic Palmer-based fuzzy flexible flow-shop scheduling algorithm

In simple flow shop problems, each machine operation center includes just one machine. If at least one machine center includes more than one machine, the scheduling problem becomes a flexible flow-shop problem. In the previous paper, we have demonstrated how fuzzy concepts can easily be used in the Palmer algorithm for managing uncertain scheduling on flow-shop problems. This paper extends the application to fuzzy flexible flow-shops with more than two machine centers. A heuristic fuzzy flexible flow-shop scheduling algorithm is then designed since optimal solutions seem unnecessary for uncertain environments.