Schedule optimization using fuzzy inference

A scheduling simulator is used for project management and production management. However, because scheduling is a combination optimization problem, a lot of time is necessary to make a schedule which can actually be used. A software module which improved the schedule represented by the Gantt chart was developed. Using fuzzy technology, knowhow to improve the schedule was implemented in this schedule improvement module. To decrease the idle time in the schedule, this module optimized the Gantt chart. For example, the production time was shortened by 10.7% when this module was applied to the job shop scheduling of the machine processing. The production time was shortened by 17.6% when this module was applied to the flow shop scheduling of the part assembly. The knowhow which optimizes the Gantt chart used in this module is general purpose. This software can easily be connected to the schedule simulator. Therefore, this module can be applied to the wide variations of scheduling