Integrated scheduling of ready-mixed concrete production and delivery

• Integrated scheduling of ready mixed concrete production and delivery
• Network flow model to minimize the total cost
• Genetic algorithm for integrated scheduling model
• Algorithm is better than combinations of priority rules.
• Affection of fleet size, cost and time windows is reported.

This study presents an approach for improving the operations of production and delivery in ready-mixed concrete (RMC) plants. A network flow method is applied to formulate the integrated scheduling problem of ready-mixed concrete production and delivery with trucks and pumps, where the demands of construction sites are in certain time windows. A method is developed that applies a genetic algorithm in which the chromosome consists of three sequences (construction sites, delivery order and vehicle IDs); operators work on the sequences of construction sites. The approach is evaluated by simulation of real cases. Comparison with combinations of other priority rules for scheduling production and vehicles demonstrates the effectiveness of the genetic algorithm. Sensitivity analysis reveals the effects of the fleet size of an available vehicle, the cost rates and the time windows of construction sites. The model and algorithm may be helpful for practical integrated operations for operation management at RMC plants.