Agregate planning of a sugar and ethanol milling company

• Grant number: 10/06400-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2010
• End date: November 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering - Operational Research
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Augusto Silva Marins
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Marcondes de Andrade Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project proposes the implementation of a Lexicographic Goal Programming model combined with Analytic Hierarchy Process, for the aggregate production planning, commercialization, and distribution in a Brazilian sugar and ethanol milling company. The model will depict the comprehensive production process of sugar, ethanol, molasses and derivatives, including decisions on agricultural steps such as cutting phases, sugarcane load and transport - and on industrials steps, mainly those related to crushing, type of production process, weekly production and storage, as well as the distribution and commercialization stages. The referred modelling will enable the decisions to be made on a weekly-basis planning horizon, which includes the whole harvesting season and the periods between harvests. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was applied to prioritize the objectives, which were identified as relevant by sugar and ethanol milling sector specialists. The model will be solved by the application of the Goal Programming technique, subjected to a set of restrictions concerning operational, logistics, technological, and financial aspects. This model will be applied in a Brazilian sugar and ethanol milling company.