Methods and systems for planning operations in manufacturing plants

[0002] This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 09/540,065, filed Mar. 31, 2000.

[0003] This invention generally relates to planning systems for manufacturing plants. More specifically, the invention relates to intermediate term and shorter term planning, referred to as campaign planning and detailed planning respectively, for manufacturing plants.

[0004] The Campaign Planning application defines the medium term production plan, normally for three time periods (months), within the Business Planning horizon, where the main objective is to minimize the cost of equipment setup while creating a high level schedule (campaign plan) of the complete product mix sought by the Business Planning application in a cost effective manner.

[0005] The Detailed Planning application defines the short term production plan within the campaign planning horizon based on actual customer orders where the main objective is to utilize the production capacity within the campaign plans for timely delivery of products to the customers. It interacts with other systems to ensure that customer orders are accepted only when they can be produced and delivered on time.

[0006] An object of this invention is to provide an improved campaign plan for manufacturing plants. Another object of the present invention is to provide a campaign planning system to optimally allocate equipment capacity to expected orders in a multiple production line manufacturing plant.

[0007] A further object of this invention is to provide a detailed planning system to dynamically allocate orders to previously reserved production capacity for a manufacturing plant.

[0008] These and other objectives of the invention are attained with the methods and systems disclosed herein. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a method and system are provided for generating a production sequence for the resources of a manufacturing plant. This method comprises the steps of identifying the total amount of each product that the plant has to produce in one period of time, identifying the operation route and productivity for each product on each available resource, and identifying setup constraints. The method includes the further steps of identifying delivery dates already committed, and identifying the minimum and maximum stock levels for each resource. The identified factors are then used to generate a production sequence for each resource of the plant with a granularity of a defined time period.

[0009] In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, a method and system are provided for planning operations of a manufacturing plant. The method comprises the steps of identifying equipment that can perform a given step of an order route comprised of a sequence of steps, and evaluating the production time of the given step. A backward search is then executed, starting at the last step of the route, to identify the first available time spot long enough to accommodate the given step. Preferably, the evaluating step includes the steps of identifying the productivity and weight of the order, and evaluating the production time on the basis of the productivity and weight of the order. Also, preferably the method includes the further step of checking through inventory to determine if there is available material to perform the given step.

[0010] Further benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred campaign planning system embodying this invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a preferred detailed planning system embodying the present invention.

[0013] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a computer system that may be used in the invention.

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a memory medium that can be used to hold a computer program for carrying out this invention.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows a functional architecture that may be used with the method and system described herein.

[0016] FIG. 7 shows the functional architecture of the Year Planner.

[0017] FIG. 8 shows the functional architecture of the Master Planner of FIG. 7.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows the functional architecture of the Detail Planner of FIG. 8.

[0019] FIG. 10 shows a Production Scheduling system.

[0020] FIG. 11 shows the functional architecture of the Primary Area Scheduling.

[0021] FIG. 12 shows the functional architecture of the Finishing Area.

[0022] FIG. 13 shows the functional architecture of the Foundry Scheduling.

[0023] FIG. 14 shows the functional architecture of Dispatch Scheduling.

[0024] FIG. 15 shows the functional architecture of Order Specification and Routing.

[0025] FIG. 16 shows the functional architecture of Inventory Application.

[0026] In the process of developing the campaign plans, relevant product mix requirement, work-in-process inventory and orders already booked are taken into consideration, so that the campaign plan generated is feasible. Other constraints that are taken into account in each period are equipment availability, purchased intermediate products, external processing capacities, and material in stock by the beginning of the planning cycle.

[0027] The Campaign Planning system generates a production sequence for each resource of a steel mill plant with a granularity of a shift (8 hours). With reference to FIG. 1, the method takes into consideration the total amount of each product that the plant has to produce in one period of time (one month, for example), the operation route and productivity for each product on each resource (type of equipment), several setup constraints, the delivery dates already committed with clients along the period considered, and the minimum and the maximum stock levels for each resource.

[0028] For that, this module runs an Integer Programming model with 1,000 integer and 50,000 continuous variables in a risc platform under UNIX operating system. The mathematical model is divided into two phases: Primary and Finishing Phases. The Finishing phase is divided into sub-models. One model for each finishing area (i.e., Stainless and Silicon areas). Given the input data for a period, each model is executed individually with their own constraints. The output of each module is added up and synthesized as the input data for the other phase, the Primary Area Phase. This phase has only one model and runs considering the constraints regarding the melt shop and Hot Strip Mill areas. The output for all the model defines a Campaign Plan for a given period (month).

[0029] The system is composed of a graphical user interface, an interface to transform graphical information in meaningful constraints for the mathematical model, an optimization engine, and interfaces with other systems, such as Business Planning, Detailed Planning, and Plant Floor Operations Systems.

[0030] The optimization engine core is based on IBM OSL library. Except by the GUI, everything else is located in a server that runs under UNIX. Communication with all other systems is made through message-passing technique using IBM MQSeries package and Oracle Database.

[0031] Through a Graphical User Interface (GUI), which shows the campaign plan in a Gantt chart format, the user has the opportunity to make changes to the generated plan and view the implications of the changes. Finally, once all the manual modifications are completed, the underlying mathematical model is run again to validate that nothing has been violated due to the manual modifications.

[0032] A capacity feasible campaign plan, in effect, sets aside capacity to be used by the product groups for specified shifts. This plan is defined as the amount of tonnage reserved for a given type of material by shift. The campaign plan also provides the necessary information for timely raw materials procurement.

[0033] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a detailed planning system is provided to dynamically allocate orders to previously reserved production capacity for a manufacturing plant.

[0034] The process of creation of a detailed plan includes developing detailed production order process plans for every step of the routing provided by the Order Dressing application. A detailed production order process plan includes the start and end dates for a given step in the route, the tonnage required, and the load on the resource in consideration. The objective of Detailed Planning is to develop a feasible plan within the bounds of the optimized campaign plan (created by the Campaign Generation System).

[0035] During the order acceptance process, it ensures that the product mix generated by the Business Planning system is not violated. In such an event, the user is warned. Before determining the tonnage required at any step (resource) in the route, and applicable material is utilized and the load on the resource is placed only for the net amount. In doing so an order may have to be split if the total amount of the materials is not found at a given process step.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 2, the method reads the options of feasible pieces of equipment that can perform a given step of an order route and evaluates the production time of that step considering the appropriate productivity and weight of the order. In order of preference for the feasible pieces of equipment, it executes a backward search, starting at the last step of the route, looking for the first available time spot long enough to accommodate the step. All timing and precedence constraints are strictly considered. Also, before searching for availability for a given route step, it first checks if there is available material through the Inventory Application system so that a minimum amount of capacity is consumed and the maximum of available material is used.

[0037] The major advantages of this system is how capacity is optimized and the precision that delivery dates are provided to an order. Despite of the precision, the date is highly reliable, for the system considers a large number of constraints, which minimize discrepancy with reality.

[0038] The user can modify an order manually and replan it. The entire detailed plan can be replanned by the user at any time. Orders received back from scheduling system are automatically replanned.

[0039] Detailed Planning uses a finite capacity planning of orders. Normally, backward planning is used to determine the latest date by which a process step is to be completed, if the desired delivery date must be satisfied. In specific situations, forward planning is used, for example, when replanning of orders that could not be scheduled is performed. Heuristics may be used to load batch annealing furnaces.

[0040] The system is composed by a graphical user interface with several screens, an evaluation engine, interface with multi-user graphical interfaces, physical data model, interface with Order Entry System, Order Dressing System, Campaign Generation System, Inventory Application System and Scheduling System.

[0041] The evaluation engine is a server that continuously run under UNIX. Communication with all other systems is made through message-passing technique using IBM MQSeries package.

[0042] Various systems used in the present invention are described below.

[0043] As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention may be carried out on any suitable computer or computer network. FIG. 3 illustrates, as an example, a computer of a type that may be used in the practice of this invention. Viewed externally in FIG. 5, a computer system has a central processing unit 42 having disk drives 44A and 44B. Disk drive indications 44A and 44B are merely symbolic of a number of disk drives that might be accommodated by the computer system. Typically, these would include a floppy disk drive such as 44A, a hard disk drive (not shown externally) and a CD ROM drive indicated by slot 44B. The number and type of drives vary, usually, with different computer configurations. The computer has the display 46 upon which information is displayed. A keyboard 50 and a mouse 52 are normally also available as input devices.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the internal hardware of the computer of FIG. 3. A bus 54 serves as the main information highway, interconnecting the other components of the computer. CPU 56 is the central processing unit of the system, performing calculations and logic operations required to execute programs. Read only memory 60 and random access memory 62 constitute the main memory of the computer. Disk controller 64 interfaces one or more disk drives to the system bus 54. These disk drives may be floppy disk drives, such as 66, internal or external hard drives, such as 70, or CD ROM or DVD (Digital Video Disks) drives, such as 72. A display interface 74 interfaces a display 76 and permits information from the bus to be viewed on the display. Communications with external devices can occur over communications port 78.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a memory medium 80 that may be used to hold a computer program for implementing the present invention, and this medium may be used in any suitable way with any appropriate computer to carry out the invention. Typically, memory media such as a floppy disk, or a CD ROM, or a Digital Video Disk will contain the program information for controlling the computer to enable the computer to perform its functions in accordance with the invention.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a functional architecture that may be used with the method and system disclosed herein. The basic object of a functional architecture is to establish a set of logical procedures that reflect the operational behavior of an organization. The architecture of FIG. 6 covers functional needs and offers some innovations in the operating procedures currently in use. Among these innovations, the number of production planning and scheduling layers is reduced, whilst nevertheless increasing the level of detail of the activities to be carried out. Another significant innovatory aspect is the application of the open book concept for entering orders. Under this concept, as the orders are placed, they are allocated one by one to the plant's resources. This means that planning can handle the plant's capacity sufficiently precisely to be able to set a reliable and speedy delivery date for an order, whilst nevertheless retaining flexibility of scheduling in order to best adapt the production sequence to inevitable unforeseen events. FIG. 6 shows the functional architecture. The remainder of this text will explain in detail the other characteristics and concepts supporting the raison d'être of this architecture.

[0047] The principal modules of the proposed architecture are:

[0048] Year Planner

[0049] Once a year, or whenever necessary, the production capacity of the plant is compared with the market conditions and an optimum proportion of how much is to be produced of each product is determined. The main events which will occur in the plant, such as long periods of maintenance, are considered and handled so as to reduce their effects on the company's profit.

[0050] Master Planner

[0051] This module keeps a check on the production availability of each type of product starting from a certain horizon (generally 3 months). This availability is used to supply the order delivery date. The optimum product mix generated by the Year Plan is updated and used as a basic datum by the Master Plan, which converts it from monthly periods to production weeks through the generation of production campaigns. Accordingly, the Master Planner can ensure that delivery date commitments are made aggressively, but viably.

[0052] Detailed Planner

[0053] For orders placed a short time before the delivery date (generally less than three months), a meticulous analysis is made of the availability of the plant and inventory with the Detailed Planner module. Daily production capacities are considered.

[0054] Primary and Finishing Area Scheduling

[0055] Orders must be selected and scheduled so as to meet commitments to customers and to effectively benefit from the plant's equipment. Grouping and sequencing constraints, configuration times and inter-dependence of equipment must be taken into consideration for loading the plant in the best possible way. As the production conditions change, the plant's scheduling must be adjusted to meet the new context and constraints.

[0056] Dispatch Area Scheduling

[0057] Shipping completes the processing stages of an order. The dispatch of orders must continue the process of optimization in the planning and scheduling undergone by the order, to minimize any delay in delivery and effectively explore transport alternatives. The integration of Shipping with Production Scheduling is achieved through the ability to view the material to be produced by the plant and by considering the load restrictions for dispatch.

[0058] Technical Specification and Routing of Orders

[0059] As the orders arrive, they must be specified technically and added to the database from which production planning and scheduling extract the information relevant to them. The nomenclature and terminology specific to the user and its standard products must be supported by this module.

[0060] Inventory Application

[0061] This module matches up the material available in the plant with the orders to be produced. The material may be plates, partially processed coils or finished products. Business rules are used to judge the quality of the match, for defining which order will be used when more than one fits the material and for selecting which material will be allocated to an order when more than one material may be applied. An analysis of the impact on plant capacity becomes necessary for each allocation.

[0062] Characteristics of the Proposed Functional Architecture

[0063] All the modules, such as Technical Specification and Routing of Orders, Planning, Production Scheduling and Inventory Application are fully integrated.

[0064] Both the “production for orders” and “production for stock” strategies can be supported.

[0065] All the modules are highly flexible owing to the broad parameter settings of the data they use.

[0066] Constraints and requests that benefit customer satisfaction and the maximum productivity of the plant are also considered.

[0067] Uses advanced techniques of Combinatorial Optimization and Artificial Intelligence, as well as algorithms specially designed for iron and steel industry problems.

[0068] The main objectives of the Year Planner, shown in FIG. 7, are:

[0069] to identify the optimum mix of products to be produced for a certain time horizon, given a market context and constraints to be met.

[0070] to analyse the impact of critical aspects, such as market segmentation, commitment of production between products and prioritization in serving customers.

[0071] creating a guide for the sales department with a view to the best product mix for the company for the period in question.

[0072] Detailed by each type of product that the plant can produce, an objective function is defined such that it can express the overall profitability of the plant for any product mix. The best product mix is that which maximizes this objective function, meeting all the constraints imposed. This type of problem is generally resolved by Linear Programming models. The tool to be adopted for implementing the model must provide, in addition to the solution, a sensitivity analysis of the constraints, identifying those that have the most impact on maximizing the objective function.

[0073] The plan generated by this module is reviewed and, via a Decision Support System interface, the impact of various scenarios on the objective function used can be tested. The final plan is published and stored for use as an initial platform for the lowest levels of planning.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows the functional architecture for the Year Planner.

[0075] Model Generator

[0076] This module is responsible for generating a suitable representation of the mathematical model defined by the user in the optimization module. The model consists of the objective function, which generally reflects the company's profit margin and the constraints to be imposed. The constraints usually consist of limits on the anticipated demand for products, capacity of the plant's machines and the relationship between processes. For the purpose of the Year Planner, the capacity of the machines may be just the number of hours that each of them is available for operation in a certain period of time.

[0077] Optimizer

[0078] This module generates the value of the objective function for the best alternative of all the possibilities, i.e. it generates the optimum solution. It also generates a sensitivity analysis enabling the identification of which variables, parameters and constraints are causing greater impact on the objective function.

[0079] Decision Support System

[0080] Via this system, the user interacts with the model, alters the parameters and constraints and observes the result and the impact of the changes. This module ensures that the user will have the means of imposing his decisions on any automatically generated solution.

[0081] The main objectives of the Master Planner, shown in FIG. 8, are:

[0082] 1. To review the year planner assumptions and projections for the next few months and then confirm them or modify them.

[0083] 2. To generate suitable campaign sequences for each month of production.

[0084] 3. To analyse the following months in detail and generate a production plan for the plant to be used in undertaking the date for orders to be placed.

[0085] 4. To allocate the orders to plant machines and generate viable delivery dates.

[0086] 5. To generate information for the Planning of Supplies.

[0087] The Master Planner allocates the optimum quantities of products supplied by the Year Plan to lesser periods, generally of one week or ten days in duration. Accordingly, it must create the production campaign periods for the various types of products on the various plant equipment. The operating horizon of the Master Planner is usually three to six months from the current date, i.e. the horizon is dynamically adjusted each month. This means that each month's production capacities can be revised as long as the month is within the operating horizon.

[0088] New orders that fall within the operating horizon of the Master Planner are allocated against the plant's weekly production capacities so that the order delivery date may be determined. The accounting of the remaining capacity is kept continually up to date to be used on the arrival of the next order. For orders exceeding one week's production capacity, the Master Planner performs a running total calculation of the weekly capacities prior to the date wanted by the customer and allocates the order to the number of weeks that are needed. If, even so, there is not sufficient capacity for producing the order, it is not accepted. The earliest date that the order can be produced is notified. In the event of any cancellation of orders, the plant's available capacities are updated. FIG. 8 shows the functional architecture for the Master Planner.

[0089] Generation of the Master Plan

[0090] The allocation of capacity to the machines specified by the Year Plan is converted into weekly allocations, which form the basis of all the planning of the Master and Detailed Planner. The master plans for each product family are generated from non-detailed constraints of machine capacity and forecasts of customer demands which may be introduced directly into the Master Planner or via the data originating from the Year Plan. Each generated plan supplies a capacity for each product family which can be feasibly produced by the plant.

[0091] Since changes and unexpected events are inevitable, the plans can be revised automatically, given the conditions for which the replanning is performed, or manually, via the Decision Support System.

[0092] Campaign Generator

[0093] Once the Year Planner supplies the ideal product mix for the next few months, this module analyses this mix and generates a sequence of production campaigns that the various plant equipment must follow in order to produce these products in an optimized manner. The generation and sequencing of these campaigns must be in accordance with the plant's processing constraints and with the rules of business.

[0094] Allocation of Orders

[0095] When the orders are placed, they are assigned to periods of time, generally weeks, in which the master plans are created. Their delivery dates are determined and undertaken with the customer. If there is not sufficient capacity for producing in good time for the customer, the reason for this being impossible will be notified.

[0096] Reverse Planning

[0097] Starting from the requested delivery date, each stage of production in the route of a product is examined and the consumption of capacity and execution time are reflected in the Master Planner weekly periods.

[0098] Resource Allocation

[0099] Different products may require the same equipment in different ways. Thus, the allocation of equipment must be done in a balanced manner, just as the time in which the equipment is allocated to the product. Each product is associated with a load profile which gives how much the product consumes of each piece of equipment on its route in terms of tons per hour.

[0100] This module considers the periods in which the equipment may not be operating, with the consequent repercussion on the available production capacity.

[0101] Available-for-Undertaking

[0102] The capacity not yet consumed for each week handled by the Master Planner is totalled and accounted week by week by this module. Thus, we have the total available capacity at each period and for each product family. For each order that is accepted, the necessary capacity is decremented from each item of equipment and reflected in the availability of all the product families sharing the machines on the route of each accepted product.

[0103] Decision Support System

[0104] This module enables the user to interact with the system for introducing, observing and altering data and results supplied by the Master Planner.

[0105] Even if an order has been entered normally by the Master Planner, nevertheless more thorough planning of the order is necessary when its production period approaches. There are several reasons for this. The orders currently in progress may consume a little more capacity than expected, reducing the capacity available for the entry of new orders. The plant's situation may have changed from the time that the orders were entered. Customers may have requested changes in delivery dates or specification of the previously requested orders. Material in production has been diverted and the order has to be replanned. Lack of sufficient raw material for processing the order.

[0106] Thus, the Detailed Planner, shown in FIG. 9, provides precise monitoring of capacity and replanning of orders, and also uses the available inventory whenever possible. It forecasts the availability of the plant for the orders already in progress and for those not yet begun. The main objectives of the Detailed Planner are:

[0107] 1. To create detailed order plans by product family.

[0108] 2. To keep an up-to-date and accurate accounting record of the capacity consumed and available by product family and by equipment.

[0109] 3. To generate a viable delivery date for new orders falling within the operating horizon of the Detailed Plan.

[0110] 4. To supply orders to the scheduling system for the requested period.

[0111] 5. To use inventory availability for planning and replanning orders.

[0112] For better use of the plant's capacity, some orders may be brought forward if there is excess capacity. Similarly, in the event of overload, some orders may be delayed and the user may then redefine the plant's available capacity for various product families in order to alleviate the impact of possible delays.

[0113] The functions of this module may be used to analyse the consequences of exchanging, altering and replanning orders. Thus, the user can examine the possibilities of speeding up the production of priority orders.

[0114] At each step in the production process, the detailed plans furnish the consumption data for each type of material used in production. From this data, the appropriate amount of raw material can be calculated that will be necessary to support production.

[0115] The final plans for each product family are published together with the production and inventory requirements. Replanned orders and unexpected capacity bottlenecks are reported.

[0116] The functional architecture of the Detailed Planner has the following characteristics:

[0117] Production Order Planning

[0118] The planning mechanism loads the orders in progress and the new orders starting from the specified week for merging by the Master Planner and those that have their delivery dates delayed will be listed for the user. The production levels of each product line are defined for each item of equipment contained in their routes. This module tries to overcome bottlenecks by using alternative resources, starting order processing earlier, or by delaying some orders. The orders each day, as well as the initial and final inventory levels.

[0119] Reverse and Direct Planning

[0120] Starting from the delivery date, each stage of production in the order route must be examined to ensure sufficient time for producing the order, given all the production times of each stage. If necessary, the orders can be projected from the week of merging for defining the nearest delivery date.

[0121] Equipment Load

[0122] This module is similar to that encountered in the Master Plan, but with more details. It considers the time of processing by the equipment, equipment configuration time, line constraints and daily capacities.

[0123] Planning and Monitoring of Supplies and Power/Utility

[0124] The limiting constraints of supply and power are considered so as to maintain a viable allocation of orders to the plant. Within the valid limits, the Detailed Planner reports the levels of supplies and power that will be necessary for producing orders.

[0125] Decision Support System

[0126] The user will have to interact with the Detailed Planner to resolve operational exceptions and to assess alternatives for loading resources and replanning. With unforeseen events, it may be impossible to deliver all the orders without there being a delay; the user must intervene and decide which will be delayed and which will not. The impacts of changes in quantity, specification and delivery date of orders also must be analysed by the user.

[0127] The Production Scheduling system, shown in FIG. 10, is composed of four modules: Primary Area Scheduling, Finishing Area Scheduling, Dispatch and Foundry Area Scheduling. FIG. 10 shows these areas and the relationship between them.

[0128] Primary Area Scheduling

[0129] The architecture of the Primary Area Scheduling, shown in FIG. 11, is based on the following requirements:

[0130] Providing a display of the primary area equipment for the desired scheduling horizon, e.g. a week or several days (from here on we shall regard this horizon as being one week). The solution generated must take into consideration all significant constraints so that the scheduling is as faithful as possible to reality.

[0131] Generating a detailed schedule for the equipment, taking into account pig iron supply constraints, constraints in grouping, sequencing and timing of equipment and the supply demands of the Foundry and Finishing Areas.

[0132] The architecture of FIG. 11 provides an integrated schedule for all the principal equipment of the primary area.

[0133] The scheduling process begins with the selection of orders for a specific week. Orders are grouped together for creating the best billet formation sequence from the point of view of the bar line and the best stand sequence from the point of view of the Hot Rolling Area. To these sequences are added the pig iron supply constraints and the pig iron requisitions made by the Foundry for then generating the scheduling of what is actually viable to be produced by the steelworks. The actual schedules of ingots for the bar line, plates for the Hot Rolling area, limits of supply of pig iron by the Blast Furnaces and steel for the Foundry are considered for the final generation of billet and coil scheduling and for the internal scheduling of the Foundry. The scheduling of the pig iron supply of the Blast Furnaces is generated within the valid limits. Throughout this process, all the relevant constraints will be considered for the maximum suitability of the solution to the situation of the plant at any given moment.

[0134] Once a solution is generated, the user may erase and rework any part of the solution. Thus, any possible constraints which are not normally required to be considered may be imposed manually by the user.

[0135] A new solution must be generated whenever the proposed scheduling clashes significantly with the plant situation. Examples of events that may require new scheduling are: diversion of material, insertion of new orders, order cancellations and breakdown of equipment.

[0136] The functional architecture modules of the Primary Area shown in FIG. 11 are:

[0137] Preliminary Grouping of Billets

[0138] The bar finishing line orders are grouped according to the similarity of characteristics wanted in the sequencing of the billets, e.g. grade of steel, delivery date and configuration of the bar rollers. After consideration of the cold ingots available in stock, the best grouping of billets is generated. At this point, specific constraints of the steelworks equipment should be disregarded.

[0139] Preliminary Sequencing of Billets and Ingots

[0140] Given the groupings supplied by the previous module, the best sequence of billets is generated and the corresponding ingot sequence for the bar rollers. One of the basic objectives is the hot charging of ingots whenever possible. Available cold ingots are calculated. Steelworks constraints are still disregarded.

[0141] Preliminary Grouping of Stands

[0142] All the orders requisitioned by Hot Rolling for the desired scheduling horizon are grouped by the characteristics appropriate to the rolling process: e.g. width and thickness of the plates, delivery date, and type of steel. Plates available in stock must be considered.

[0143] Preliminary Sequencing of Stands

[0144] Considering the stands formed in the previous module, a sequence of stands is generated, so as to best meet the constraints of plate rolling. Again, available cold plates are considered, but the majority of the constraints relevant to the steelworks are not.

[0145] Formation of Runs and Continuous Ingoting and Blast Furnace Sequencing

[0146] For each ingot of the sequence requested by Bar Rolling and each plate of the sequence requested by Hot Rolling, the time is determined that the ingot or plate may wait between the end of ingoting and the start of charging for rolling. The ingots and plates are grouped in runs so as to maximize the number of ingots or plates that overlap in the period that they have available to be charged hot. As the runs are formed, they are assigned to the equipment (e.g. BOFs, pot furnaces, degasifier) for ensuring that the continuity of processing of the run within the steelworks is viable. All the constraints of the continuous rolling mill which may involve sequences of several runs are verified, as well as the limitations and impositions of the Blast Furnaces. The demands from the Foundry are accommodated between the runs being created. This module generates the possible scheduling of being supplied by the steelworks for the ingots, plates, Foundry servicing and distribution and pig iron of the Blast Furnaces as near as possible to what is demanded at the steelworks.

[0147] Allocation of Shaft Furnaces

[0148] Given the actual sequence of ingots to be produced by the steelworks, this module must select the cells of the shaft furnaces available and assign them the ingots, making all the necessary time allowances, as well as considering the reheating of the available cold ingots.

[0149] Sequencing of the Bar Rollers

[0150] Once the sequence is given with which the ingots are available to the shaft furnaces, the sequence with which they must be rolled is determined, taking into account the timing and configuration constraints of the rollers.

[0151] Final Grouping of Stands

[0152] Given the final sequence of plates to be produced by the steelworks, the time available for hot rolling each of them is calculated. By maximizing the number of plates with overlapping of these times, the plates are grouped in stands, achieving homogeneity in width, thickness, delivery date and type of steel of the plates. The available cold plates are also considered. All the constraints of forming the stands must be satisfied.

[0153] Final Sequencing of Stands

[0154] Once the stands are defined, the constraints imposed by the hot rolling area and the nearest order delivery date within each stand are considered, generating the final scheduling of the stands and consequently of the hot coils and rough plates.

[0155] Decision Support System

[0156] The user may review the solutions generated and alter them. If the modifications violate any constraint, the user will be notified, but it is his decision whether or not to keep the modification.

[0157] Finishing Area Scheduling

[0158] FIG. 12 shows the functional architecture of a finishing area. The finishing area shown in this Figure consists of the Stainless Steel Coil and Plate Finishing Lines, the Silicon Finishing Line, their respective Cutting Lines, the Carbon Cutting Line and the Bar Rolling Mill.

[0159] The proposed architecture for the Finishing Area is based on the following points:

[0160] generation of a schedule for the Finishing Area equipment for a certain horizon (e.g. a week), taking into account all the constraints of this equipment.

[0161] minimizing the configuration times of the equipment and order delays.

[0162] The orders supplied by the Primary Area are grouped together and sequenced for a week. All maintenance periods must be taken into account. Inventory Application has an important role in the use of material in progress which is diverted.

[0163] A description follows of the approaches to be used for scheduling each of the finishing lines.

[0164] Stainless and Silicon Steel Lines

[0165] These two finishing lines have very similar characteristics with regard to the operating procedures of production: all the equipment in these lines, as a rule, passes through two operating stages. The first is a grouping of orders meeting the operating constraints of the equipment, e.g. all the coils in a group must belong to the same type of steel. The second stage is that of sequencing, in which the coils of a group are sequenced, e.g. the coils must be in order of decreasing length. At the end of a sequencing stage, the coils are released to the next equipment on their route, being made available to be processed.

[0166] The sets of coils that are grouped together in a particular machine and have the same route are still not allocated to one order, but to a set of orders, i.e. the allocation of metal units to orders is done as late as possible, so as to benefit from the possibility of selecting which order should be treated as diverted and which should continue forward when a diversion occurs. At the start of each system operation, the function of refining order allocation creates the initial groups of orders for each of the items of equipment.

[0167] The grouping, sequencing and order allocation refinement cycle is repeated until all the orders have been processed by all the equipment on their routes. The Decision Support System enables the observation of the results and the intervention of the user at all levels of decision taken (i.e. valid for the remaining lines of the Finishing Area).

[0168] Bar Rolling

[0169] The scheduling of billets (rough bars) originating from the rollers (MILL 1 and 2) is taken into account so that suitable groups of material are formed and sequenced by the equipment of the Bar Line Finishing Area. The approach to the solution of this type of problem may be regarded as a special case of the approach described for Stainless/Silicon steel, since the equipment has similar grouping and sequencing characteristics. Both the scheduling of billets and that of finished products can be altered and adjusted by the Decision Support System.

[0170] FIG. 13 shows the functional architecture of the Foundry Scheduling. This is an area that operates separately from the rest of the plant, except for requisitions for steel from the Steelworks and pig iron from the Blast Furnaces.

[0171] The first step in the process of casting is the allocation of human resources to the planning phase of a new order, in which the models and production routes are generated for the equipment. External models may also be acquired and their routes determined.

[0172] Owing to the existence of more equipment than manpower to operate it, human resources become critical in the Foundry. Accordingly, a careful check is made to simultaneously allocate a human resource to an item of equipment so as to carry out each task specified in the routing of an order.

[0173] The final production phase of an order may involve a finishing stage, when we then have the scheduling of the finished products. Again, both the data supplied to the Foundry and that generated by it may be modified by the user via the Decision Support System.

[0174] FIG. 14 shows a functional architecture of Dispatch Scheduling. The transport function completes the production process of an order in the plant. This function must generate a schedule that minimizes delay in delivery and suitably explores transport alternatives. The architecture of FIG. 14 is based on the following basic points:

[0175] Generating a schedule for a week (or any desired period) for each means of transport (lorry, train, ship, etc.) taking into account the scheduling of the finished products produced by the plant.

[0176] Adjusting the daily scheduling whenever necessary.

[0177] Developing a load schedule based on the haulage companies' scheduling.

[0178] Generating new scheduling when any serious distortion occurs in the availability of products or of the means of transport.

[0179] Generating a schedule that minimizes delivery delay and transport cost.

[0180] Enabling monitoring of the performance of the haulage companies.

[0181] Shipment Grouping

[0182] This function receives the scheduling of the finished products and groups them together with those found in a shipping depot. These groups will be dispatched by the various haulage companies. This module minimizes delivery delay and the cost of transport.

[0183] Load Sequencing

[0184] The grouped orders are sequenced to form a load schedule based on the haulage companies' scheduling. Constraints such as availability of space for handling the load and haulage capacity must be taken into account.

[0185] Decision Support System

[0186] The user must have a clear view of the orders that are to arrive from the plant and of those in the shipping depots. Moreover, the user must be able to correct and alter any data considered or generated by the Dispatch Scheduling module. This function also monitors the level of deviation between what is scheduled and what is carried out, generating the necessary information for when new scheduling is wanted.

[0187] On entering an order, it must be quickly and dynamically specified. The order specification and routing architecture of FIG. 15 (FIG. 10) is based on the following points:

[0188] Reducing or eliminating manual specification and routing through the maintenance and updating of metallurgical knowledge and specification of orders.

[0189] Dynamically specifying orders with routing information, as soon as the orders are placed by the customers.

[0190] Keeping the orders in a repository equally accessible by Planning and Scheduling.

[0191] Providing a viability check for the specification of orders and automatically re-routing the orders whenever necessary.

[0192] The order specification process begins with access to the customer orders supplied by the order entry function. Customer requests are translated into the user's internal nomenclature.

[0193] According to the type of product specified, the grade of steel, the width, the length and the quality, the routing is generated to reflect the load demands of the order on the equipment of the route. The routing must include information on the sequence of equipment on which the order needs to be processed, processing times on each item of equipment, production rates, and intermediate dimensions at each stage.

[0194] The viability of producing the order as specified is checked against the capacities of the equipment to ensure that the order can be physically processed as specified. If the check fails, an alternative route, if it exists, must be automatically generated.

[0195] All the orders specified are evaluated with cost information based on their route. These orders are equally accessible by Planning and Scheduling.

[0196] Specification of Orders

[0197] This function translates the information from the customer order to the user's internal order standard. International technical standards are used and pre-defined information is supplied in cases where some characteristics of the order are not provided by the customer.

[0198] Checking the Validity of the Order

[0199] This function is performed for each order placed. If the order cannot be processed, this information is passed on to the Decision Support System function, which must provide the means for requests to be altered if possible.

[0200] Route Generation

[0201] Once an order passes the production viability check, its standard production route must be generated. Information on the order, customer preference and rolling mill conditions are taken into account.

[0202] Alternative Route Generation

[0203] If a route cannot be found, a request for re-routing must be sent to this function which, in its turn, will attempt to discover an alternative route.

[0204] Cost Generation

[0205] This function calculates the cost of an order based on the routing associated with it.

[0206] Decision Support System

[0207] The user can observe the information supplied and generated by the Specification and Routing module and modify it as he considers necessary.

[0208] The Inventory application process, shown in FIG. 16, matches the relevant attributes of the available material to the specifications of the orders and determines the eligibility of the material for a given order. The material may be plates, partially finished coils or finished products. Business rules are used to judge the suitability of the allocation between the available material and the order, both when there are several materials for one order and when there are several possible orders for a particular material. Inventory Application to an order will cause an impact upon the Detailed Planner and Scheduling.

[0209] The Inventory Application process begins with the analysis of new orders to determine which can be assigned to the existing inventory of plates and coils. Some characteristics that may be considered are: chemical properties, quality, width, thickness and weight.

[0210] When multiple candidates are available, the best choice is identified according to a predefined preference list. Once a plate or coil has been applied to an order, it will no longer be available for other applications. The user may intervene whenever necessary.

[0211] Allocation/Re-allocation of Orders

[0212] Order data and inventory data are processed by this function. Specific attributes of orders, plates and coils can be compared. The matching criteria, order attributes and the candidate plates or coils are examined. The viability of the match between the order and the material is determined.

[0213] Predefined rules are used for prioritizing in the event of multiple matching possibilities.

[0214] Decision Support System

[0215] This function has to support the intervention of the user in the decision process on the suitability and availability of candidate material to be allocated to an order.

[0216] The described functional architecture will bring a series of benefits. Some of them are found below:

[0217] Optimization of the profit margin and resources of the company from the Year Planner to the plant's Production Scheduling.

[0218] Weighted balance between market demands and the plant's production potential.

[0219] Rapid and precise response to viability of meeting customer requests.

[0220] The expected date of delivery will be determined promptly, taking into account all the intermediate stages of production. Inventory information will be taken into account in the arrival of new orders and in the reallocation of diverted orders.

[0221] The automation of the Planning and Scheduling Systems will enable users to concentrate on tasks which are more critical and strategic to the company.

[0222] The Production Scheduling of the whole plant will be fully integrated, from the Steelworks to the end of the Finishing Lines.

[0223] Planning will automatically generate the formation and sequencing of campaigns.

[0224] The Specification and Routing System will be sufficiently intelligent to release people from tedious manual processes. The specification process will consider standard and alternative routes.

[0225] Application of material will be considered on entering orders. The process will be automatic and performed in real time. All the relevant aspects of matching orders with available materials will be considered.

[0226] The total time between the placing of the order and its being shipped to the customer will be reduced.

[0227] Planning and Scheduling will be continually adapted to the plant's conditions in order to exploit its capacities to the maximum and better service the market.

[0228] While it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.