Page 1 of 21 Performance appraisal of a genetic-based algorithm and some rule-oriented algorithms for FMSs scheduling M. A. Shouman ** Department of OR and DSS, Faculty of Computers and Informatics, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Tel. 002 03 5495148 Email: profshouman@hotmail.com A. A. Aboul-Nour Industrial & Systems Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Tel. 002 02 2604931 M. Abdel-Fatah Industrial & Systems Engineering Department. Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Tel. 002 055 3711223 Email: neuoneall@yahoo.com Keywords Scheduling, FMSs, genetic algorithms, and dispatching rules. **To whom correspondence should be addressed.