Abstract:  When hull blocks are constructed in a rectangle working plate conflict between time and space exists. To avoid such conflict, a spatial scheduling method based on multirules is proposed in this paper. In this method, time and space similarity rule is proposed. All the unscheduled blocks in the same scheduling period are classified by using the time and space similarity rule. Then, these blocks are allocated into corresponding time slots. The layout of these blocks on working plate is then determined by means of the Best available point search method. The blocks in the same set are then sequenced according to the construction order of the hull. A hull block construction case from a real shipbuilding factory is used to validate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method.

Key words: similarity rule, shipbuilding, spatial scheduling