Optimization Algorithms for a Two-Machine Permutation Flowshop with Limited Waiting Times Constraint and Ready Times of Jobs

In this research, we develop and suggest branch and bound algorithms for a two-machine permutation flowshop scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing makespan. In this scheduling problem, after each job is operated on the machine 1 (first machine), the job has to start its second operation on machine 2 (second machine) within its corresponding limited waiting time. In addition, each job has its corresponding ready time at the machine 1. For this scheduling problem, we develop various dominance properties and three lower bounding schemes, which are used for the suggested branch and bound algorithm. In the results of computational tests, the branch and bound algorithms with dominance properties and lower bounding schemes, which are suggested in this paper, can give optimal solution within shorter CPU times than the branch and bound algorithms without those. Therefore, we can say that the suggested dominance properties and lower bounding schemes are efficient.