An investigation on integration of aggregate production planning, master production scheduling and short-term production scheduling of batch process operations through a common data model

A prototype system has been developed by integrating two higher-level hierarchical production planning application programs (aggregate production plan (APP), master production schedule (MPS)) using a common data model integration approach into an existing planning system for short-term scheduling and supervisory batch management which was originally proposed and developed by Rickard, J. G., Macchietto, S. & Shah, N. (1999). Integrated decision support in flexible multipurpose plants. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 23, S539-S542. The hierarchical production planning system has been modelled and validated around an industrial scenario concerning multi-site, multipurpose batch process operations making household chemicals from start to transportation to regional warehouses. This preliminary work suggests that the idea of integrating software applications through a common data model, which was originally described by Stanley, G. M. (1994). The emerging trend towards knowledge-based frameworks for computer-integrated manufacturing. Advances in Instrumentation & Control, 49, 1121-1133 and further developed by Rickard, J. G., Macchietto, S. & Shah, N. (1999). Integrated decision support in flexible multipurpose plants. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 23, S539-S542 is feasible. However further research work, improvements and validations are required using varieties of industrial batch process operations and distribution problems to prove its viability. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.