@article {Ouzineb2014156, title = {A Hybrid Method for Solving Buffer Sizing and Inspection Stations Allocation}, journal = {IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology}, volume = {440}, number = {PART 3}, year = {2014}, note = {cited By 0}, pages = {156-166}, abstract = {The buffer sizing problem in unreliable production lines is an important, indeed, complex combinatorial optimization problem with many industrial applications. These applications include quality, logistics and manufacturing production systems. In the formulation of the problem, the system consists of n machines, n fixed-size buffers and m inspection station in series. The objective is to minimize a combined storage and shortage costs, and also specifying the optimal location of inspection stations in the system. The present paper aims at optimizing a generalization of the model previously proposed in (Mhada et al., 2014) using a novel approach. In this approach, we combine Tabu Search (TS) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to identify search regions with promising locations of inspection stations and an exact method to optimize the assignment of buffer sizes for each location. This approach provides a balance between diversification and intensification. Numerical results on test problems from previous research are reported. Using this approach, we can reduce the solution time by more than 97\% in some cases. {\textcopyright} IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2014.}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-662-44733-8_20}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906923939\&doi=10.1007\%2f978-3-662-44733-8_20\&partnerID=40\&md5=b5f75772fc70897fe5981f687a616751}, author = {Ouzineb, M.a and Mhada, F.-Z.b and Pellerin, R.c and El Hallaoui, I.c} } @conference {Ouzineb2013, title = {An exact method for solving the buffer sizing and inspection stations allocations problem}, booktitle = {Proceedings of 2013 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management, IEEE - IESM 2013}, year = {2013}, note = {cited By 1}, abstract = {An unreliable single part type transfer line with fixed inter machine buffer sizes is considered. In general, imperfect machines operating with imperfect raw material, or partially processed raw material, will result in the production of a mix of conforming and non conforming parts. The problem of optimal joint assignment of buffer sizes and inspection station positions is here considered where we assume that defective parts are scrapped upon detection. The performance measure to be optimized is a combination of work in process storage and parts inspection costs, with an eye to determining the adequate number of inspection stations. We propose an exact method for solving this problem and large-scale numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Interesting properties of the problem are also denoted based on our empirical results. {\textcopyright} 2013 International Institute for Innovation, Industrial Engineering and Entrepreneurship - I4e2.}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84899126497\&partnerID=40\&md5=cfe72f4685a6a787a74df5be3b83db8f}, author = {Ouzineb, M.a and Mhada, F.b and El Hallaoui, I.c and Pellerin, R.c} }