Optimization of Steel Plate Stockyard Outbound Operation in Shipbuilding Using Improved Genetic Algorithm

Steel plate outbound operation is a time-consuming job, most of the time is wasted in relocating blocking plates. In order to save the operation time in steel plate yard in shipbuilding, this paper established the mathematical model to minimizes the total relocation movement. An improved genetic algorithm is proposed to solve this problem. Considering future outbound operation, a heuristic relocation strategy comparing stack priority and blocking plates' outbound date is introduced. Penalty function based on outbound sequence rule is proposed to accelerate the algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed method can reduce the relocation number whenever stack number and slot number changes.