Multi-objective harmonious colony-decision algorithm for more efficiently evaluating assembly sequences

Purpose - Complex products, such as aircrafts and ships, are assembled from many parts and there are many available assembly sequences. Selecting the best from the available assembly sequences is challenging because of many factors, such as assembly performance, assemblability, assembly cost, assembly quality and assembly time. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a new and efficient algorithm aimed at this goal. Design/methodology/approach - A new and efficient algorithm evaluating assembly sequences based on multi-objective harmonious colony-decision method is presented. This algorithm mainly includes three key steps: first, presenting the priority relationship between assembly sequences and the coefficient matrix for these objectives: assembly performance, assemblability, assembly cost, assembly quality, assembly time, and so on by several experts; second, calculating the maximum of harmonious values and harmonious priority value; third, if the maximum of harmonious priority value is not negative, the algorithm ends. Then the priority relationships of assembly sequences are obtained and the optimal assembly sequence can be selected. Findings - This algorithm can efficiently support several experts to evaluate assembly sequences according to plenty of evaluation objectives and then to output a harmonious and recognized priority relationship of assembly sequences. Practical implications - The algorithm is applied successfully to evaluate assembly sequences and select the optimal assembly sequence for component of aircraft's wing with fixtures. Originality/value - This algorithm provides a new method to synthetically evaluate assembly sequences for complex product according to multi-objectives.