摘要
Production planning problems with setup decisions, which were formulated as mixed integer programmes (MIP), are solved in this study. The integer component of the MIP solution is determined by three evolution algorithms used in this study. Firstly, a traditional genetic algorithm (GA) uses conventional crossover andmutation operators for generating new chromosomes (solutions). Secondly, a modified GA uses not only the conventional operators but also a sibling operator, which stochastically produces new chromosomes from old ones using the sensitivity information of an associated linear programme. Thirdly, a sibling evolution algorithm uses only the sibling operator to reproduce. Based on the experiments done in this study, the sibling evolution algorithm performs the best among all the algorithmsused in this study. © 1999 Operational Research Society Ltd. All rights reserved.