Integrated Planning in Energy intensive Process industries

Purpose and goal

This feasibility study at a steel company addresses possibilities to integrate energy planning with tactical and operational planning and control. By connecting the flow through each production process to each other on a planning basis, the capacity need as well as the energy need can be located and analysed in order to apply a collaborative production- and energy planning process for waste minimization purposes.

Results and expected effects

Future research opportunities is addressed regarding how planning support is used in the steel industry today and how it could be integrated and utilized in the future for both production planning and control when aiming for both cost reductions and energy efficiency. This feasibility study has resulted in awakening this issue from new perspectives among the collaborating companies while developing a plan for future research.

Approach and implementation

The feasibility study had the task to establish the project idea at the collaborating companies, to develop a network, build up a working unit and set the framework for future research. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to future research has been analysed and discussed with the collaborating companies.