SIMULATION AND SCHEDULING OF A MUTIPRODUCT SPECIALTY CHEMICALS PLANT

This research has concentrated on the development of methodology for planning operations of a multiproduct chemical plant. The research has included the computer simulation of an existing plant, application of the simulation to plant debottlenecking and productivity improvement, development of an interactive algorithm to schedule processes which have competing resources, and combination of the scheduling algorithm with the simulation program to provide a flexible tool for capacity planning.; Methods were tested and implemented at the Chemical Manufacturing Division Plant of the Burroughs-Wellcome Company in Greenville, North Carolina. Simulations were used to evaluate process efficiency, identify possible bottlenecks, and explore process changes such as procedural changes or equipment additions. The scheduling algorithm was used for determining whether the product demands could be met with the present capacity, estimating the impact of shutting down a production area for a specific period of time, and calculating the capacity increases needed to meet demands for which present capacity is inadequate. Utilizing productivity results from the simulation studies, the algorithm was used to explore how the addition of an operator or piece of equipment to a production area influenced overall plant productivity.