Balancing fuzzy multi-objective two-sided assembly lines via Bees Algorithm

Many real life problems contain imprecise variables, constraints and objectives. Fuzzy set theory gives an opportunity to handle imprecise terms in such situations. Two-sided assembly line balancing (2sALB) problem which is a generalization of the well known simple assembly line balancing problem can also be modeled more realistically by employing fuzzy approaches. Such an approach is presented in this study to model and solve 2sALB problem by employing fuzzy mathematical programming and Bees Algorithm (BA). 2sALB problem is a combinatorial complex problem. For this reason BA is employed as a search mechanism for obtaining good solutions to it. BA is a relatively new member of swarm intelligence based meta-heuristics that tries to mimic natural behavior of real honey bees in food foraging in solving complex optimization problems. BA is generally applied to continuous optimization in the literature. Its application to combinatorial problems is rare. This study also presents one of the first application of BA to an assembly line balancing problem which is member of combinatorial optimization.