Supply optimization for the production of raw sugar

Publication: Research - peer-reviewJournal article – Annual report year: 2007

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Based on a case study from Venezuela, the production of raw sugar is investigated. Ideally, sugar mills operate at a constant production rate. However, safety stocks of the raw material cannot be maintained as sugar cane quality deteriorates very rapidly. Sugar cane is therefore continuously sourced in diverse quantities and qualities from hundreds of geographically dispersed haciendas and supplied to the milling process. Furthermore, due to weather conditions changing throughout the year, tight time windows must be observed for harvesting. The approach presented in this paper aims at preserving a constant supply while minimizing the associated costs. The entire planning problem is structured in a hierarchical fashion: (1) cultivation of the haciendas, (2) harvesting, and (3) dispatching of the harvesting crews and equipment. The corresponding optimization models and solution procedures are introduced and applied to the case study problem.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Production Economics
Publication date2007
Volume110
Journal number1-2
Pages224-239
ISSN0925-5273
DOIs
StatePublished
CitationsWeb of Science® Times Cited: 16

Keywords

  • Supply network planning, Harvest planning and scheduling, Production optimization, Raw sugar production

ID: 3995149