Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Model and Heuristic for Short-Term Scheduling of Pressing Process in Multi-Layer Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing

The main stages of printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing are the design, fabrication, assembly, and testing. This paper focuses on scheduling pressing process, which is a part fabrication process multi-layer PCB new application since it has never been investigated in literature. A novel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation for short-term presented. objective function to minimize makespan overall process. Moreover, three-phase-PCB-pressing heuristic (3P-PCB-PH) also To illustrate proposed MILP model 3P-PCB-PH, test problems generated from real data acquired company solved. results show that can find an optimal schedule all small- medium-sized but do so only some large-sized using CPLEX solver within time limit 2 h. However, 3P-PCB-PH could much less computational time. Furthermore, quickly near-optimal other not solved optimally.