Parallel hybrid metaheuristics for the flexible job shop problem

A parallel approach to flexible job shop scheduling problem is presented in this paper. We propose two double-level parallel metaheuristic algorithms based on the new method of the neighborhood determination. Algorithms proposed here include two major modules: the machine selection module refer to executed sequentially, and the operation scheduling module executed in parallel. On each level a metaheuristic algorithm is used, therefore we call this method meta(2)heuristics. We carry out a computational experiment using Graphics Processing Units (CPU). It was possible to obtain the new best known solutions for the benchmark instances from the literature. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.