SUN ETD - Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this community

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/804

This community is a clearing house for masters and doctorates submitted via Thesis Management

Browse

Browsing SUN ETD - Theses and Dissertations by Author "Bernreuther, Marius Raphael"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Integrating quantum computing into smart maintenance scheduling
    (Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Bernreuther, Marius Raphael; Jooste, J. L.; Lucke, Dominik; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    This thesis examines the integration of quantum computing into smart maintenance scheduling problems, enabling the integrated scheduling of production and maintenance to enhance decision-making within manufacturing environments. The lack of coordination and integrated scheduling of maintenance and production plans leads to significant economic inefficiencies. The key objective is to develop an optimisation model, which integrates the scheduling of maintenance and production using quantum computing. The design science methodology is applied to create the optimisation model. A literature review is conducted to determine the current status of scientific progress in the field, and qualitative research is used to reveal requirements and evaluation criteria. The literature reveals a gap in the integration of quantum computing into this type of scheduling problem. Qualitative research analyses the requirements for integrated scheduling models, supporting the relevance of the subsequently developed model for practical application. A three-step approach is developed, combining simulation-based optimisation and metaheuristics to create an initial integrated schedule. This is a usual state-of-the-art approach revealed by the literature review. Subsequently, the quantum approximate optimisation algorithm is iteratively applied for prescheduling maintenance tasks. The model is verified, validated, and tested against the evaluation criteria identified during the qualitative research. The thesis demonstrates the feasibility of quantum computing for smart maintenance scheduling and proposes a method to include quantum computing algorithms in complex integrated scheduling problems. Due to the novelty of integrating quantum computing into this type of problem, further research opportunities are identified and suggested.