Multi-Objective Optimization of Production Sequence and Layout of Precast Concrete Components on the Mold Table Under Limited Mold Quantity

Precast concrete components, as one of the important structural systems in prefabricated buildings, have received widespread attention due to their efficient manufacturing characteristics on the production line. Their production sequence and layout on the mold table have a crucial impact on production energy consumption. However, a critical constraint is often overlooked in the first step of precast concrete manufacturing: the production sequence and layout of molds are planned without considering the limited availability of molds for each component type. Therefore, this article proposes a mixed-integer programming model for the production sequence and layout of precast concrete components under a limited number of molds, aiming to simultaneously minimize production energy consumption, fluctuation coefficients of mold table utilization, and mold switching time. To obtain high-quality solutions for production sequence and mold layout, a multi-objective genetic flatworm algorithm with a Tabu mapping mechanism is developed to efficiently determine the production sequence and the positions of molds on the mold tables. Through three production cases of precast concrete components with different scales, the proposed model and algorithm have been demonstrated to be highly effective in assisting decision-makers in quickly formulating the optimal production sequence and layout schemes for precast concrete components.