An optimization approach for the lot sizing and scheduling problem in the brewery industry

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Tamara Baldo (Author) FEUP; Maristela Santos (Author) FEUP; Bernardo Almada Lobo (Author) FEUP; Reinaldo Morabito (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Computers and Industrial Engineering

Vol. 72

Pages: 58-71

ISSN: 0360-8352

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Science

Scopus

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Other information

Resumo (PT): This study considers a production lot sizing and scheduling problem in the brewery industry. The underlying manufacturing process can be basically divided into two main production stages: preparing the liquids including fermentation and maturation inside the fermentation tanks; and bottling the liquids on the filling lines, making products of different liquids and sizes. This problem differs from other problems in beverage industries due to the relatively long lead times required for the fermentation and maturation processes and because the “ready” liquid can remain in the tanks for some time before being bottled. The main planning challenge is to synchronize the two stages (considering the possibility of a “ready” liquid staying in the tank until bottling), as the production bottlenecks may alternate between these stages during the planning horizon. This study presents a novel mixed integer programming model that represents the problem appropriately and integrates both stages. In order to solve real-world problem instances, MIP-based heuristics are developed, which explore the model structure. The results show that the model is able to comprise the problem requirements and the heuristics produce relatively good-quality solutions.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific