Simulation based optimization approach to solve a maintenance process problem

In this paper, a simulation based optimization method is introduced. A combined simulation and Non Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) optimization engine is developed to solve a maintenance process problem for an industrial case. The coupling is used in order to optimize the performances of the simulation model representing a maintenance process by choosing the best queues´ scheduling policy. Our simulation model is performed using FLEXSIM software. NSGA-II model is implemented using C# language, because it ensures exchanges between FLEXSIM software and Ms Excel. The NSGA-II and simulation models operate in parallel over time with interactions. The aim of this paper is to propose an original approach for reorganizing the maintenance process using simulation based optimization approaches.