The evolution of schematic representations of flow shop scheduling problems

The schematic representation of schedules has been a useful tool for researchers; in this paper, we review existing network-based schematics for flow shop models. We also propose new schematics for flow shops with blocking, synchronous transfers, no-wait processing, no-idle time and limited buffer space. Using schematics, we explain some of the past findings and present new results. We also explain flow shop anomalies/paradoxes. Finally, we propose schematics for four flow shop models using the concept of string analog.