Per: rodrigo barcellos caldas (PSI Metals Brazil), Sofia Aguiar Rocha (PSI Metals Brazil), Bernardo Bastos Pereira Moreira (PSI Metals Brazil), Matheus de Oliveira Barbosa (TERNIUM BRAZIL), Anamim Thuler Schuwarte (TERNIUM BRAZIL)
Abstract:
This paper aims to describe the implementation of PSImetals Planning Caster Scheduler solution for the Continuous Caster weekly plan creation in Ternium’s Rio de Janeiro plant. The project was split in three sprints that respectively addressed first implementations, tuning of the optimization algorithm and finally adjustments for the better experience of the user. Before the project, the process of planning the schedule of tundishes and their heats was done manually: the expert on the field had to analyze the company system with the available production orders, the different kinds of machine stops and the multiple production constraints in order to find a schedule that minimizes constraints violation. PSImetals Planning Caster Scheduler is the standard component of PSImetals Planning used to create continuous caster schedules. As input, it receives the list of production orders available for production, with all of their detailed technical information. The scheduler can also input many types of flow, order and material constraints. The system then helps the strategic decision made by the scheduler of creating the production sequence in the line.
The production constraints might be related to technical process limitations, such as the capacity of a machine, logistical limitations, such as available stockyard space, security limitations or many other business considerations (e.g., due date, production balance). PSImetals Planning Caster Scheduler allows these rules and constraints to be implemented in the optimization decision, with their respective importance levels. It provides many different views and forms of analysis for the user, so they can check the schedule built by the program and compare it with the specific week’s production constraints. Caster Scheduler aims to reduce the time needed from the user to create the schedule and increase available time for human decision-making. Caster Scheduler turns the daily scheduling task into an efficient job when proposing solutions for scheduling problems.
