An Integrated Binary-Tabu Search Approach for the Buffer Allocation Problem: An Industrial Case Study

Abstract

In this study, an integrated binary-tabu search algorithm is proposed to solve the buffer allocation problem for a real manufacturing system producing heating exchanger in Turkey. The aim is to minimize the total buffer size in the system while improving the system performance. To achieve this objective first the production system is modeled by using simulation. After that the proposed algorithm is employed to find the optimal buffer levels for minimizing the total buffer size in the system. The experimental study shows that proposed algorithm improves the current average daily throughput rate about 31.68%.