Multi-factory parallel machine problems: Improved mathematical models and artificial bee colony algorithm

•This paper considers the problem of multi factory parallel machine problems.•We analyzed the available model and algorithm and showed that they suffer from serious shortcomings.•We propose three intelligent mathematical models for makespan and total completion time objectives.•We propose effective metaheuristics based on artificial bee colony algorithm.•The proposed models and algorithm significantly outperform the available model and algorithm.

This paper considers the problem of multi factory parallel machine problems. This problem is already studied in the literature and there is a mathematical model and a genetic algorithm for the problem. We analyzed the model and algorithm, and showed that they suffer from serious shortcomings. Then, we propose three mathematical models for makespan and total completion time objectives. The proposed models are compared with the available model in both size and computational complexities. The available model is significantly outperformed. Moreover, we propose three effective metaheuristics based on artificial bee colony algorithms. The proposed metaheuristics are compared against the four available algorithms on both small and large instances. The proposed metaheuristics perform much more effectively.