Steel slabs are reheated in pusher-type furnaces up to a temperature of 1200°C in the steel sheet manufacturing process. In this article we describe a control system that uses an on-line numerical model to calculate the furnace setpoints in order to improve the heating quality. Examples of actual furnace operation with and without the system are presented to show the improvements that are obtai...

We describe an optimization application in the context of steel manufacturing, to design and schedule batches for annealing furnaces. Our solution approach uses a two-phase decomposition. The first phase groups together orders into batches using a mixed-integer linear programming model. The second phase assigns the batches to furnaces and schedules them over time, using constraint programming. ...

The purpose of this research is to provide a complete method for measuring the performance green supply chain management (GSCM) in steel manufacturing sector using combined approach. This study conducted on an integrated system based four things: design GSCM measurement model Seven Sink Performance Model, weighing indicators analytical network process, objective matrix measure assessment, and t...

Holonic manufacturing refers to a modular approach to constructing and operating a manufacturing process whereby individual production units have the properties of autonomy and co-operation. This paper examines some key ideas behind holonic manufacturing in the particular context of continuous production processes. The main objectives of the paper are: (1) To review the status of Computer Integ...

The production of steel normally constitutes the inception of most Supply Chains in different areas. Steel manufacturing companies are strongly affected by bull whip effects. Due to nondeterministic incoming orders and changes of customer requirements on accepted orders, making the right decision at a certain stage can be the difference between earning or loosing a great turnover. Improving the...

The ceramic fiber business of Shinnikka Thermal Ceramics Corporation began in March 1984 when its Sakai Works (then Nippon Steel Chemical Sakai Works) started production of ceramic fibers after several years of preparatory arrangements. The continuous reheating furnace having all-ceramic fiber lining, high thermal efficiency and low thermal inertia that was adopted for the plate mill (put into ...

Using historical, ®rm-level data, this study compares the productivity of Japanese and U.S. integrated steel producers. In recent decades Japanese producers have demonstrated higher labor productivity than their U.S. counterparts, due largely to higher investment. Calculations of multifactor productivity suggest that the American ®rms, nevertheless, maintain a small advantage in overall ef®cien...

This paper presents the model, solution method, and system developed and implemented for hot rolling production scheduling. The project is part of a large-scale e€ort to upgrade production and operations management systems of major iron and steel companies in China. Hot rolling production involves sequence dependent setup costs. Traditionally the production is scheduled using a greedy serial me...