A Framework for Production Capacity and Time Utilization of Mono Product Sequential Process Plants

Abstract

This article addresses the challenges of estimating production capacity and time utilization problem in a sequential process plant. A framework and mathematical model are presented to aid the analysis and understanding of the proposed solution. A set of constraints is provided in order to specify the requirements for production capacity and time utilization planning in a sequential process plant. In order to ascertain the performance of the framework, the mathematical models derived are tested using an existing designed process plant and the results obtained from the evaluation are also presented. The proposed model generates the utilized time for the process plant per batch and also the production capacity of the process plant as well as the production rates of individual machines in the process plant. Application of the model to an existing process plant demonstrates that the addition of buffer storage to store work in progress materials in a mono product sequential process plant will increase the production rate of the plant but the production rate of the machines in the plant remains constant. Also, the addition of buffer storage will increase the time utilized by the process plant to complete its operation per batch.