Batch shop scheduling and design

In the field of process engineering, batch plants are used in industrial sectors as varied as fine chemicals, biotechnology, materials processing and electronic component manufacturing... Batch processes offer the advantage of being able to produce several compounds, often with high added value, from standard equipment, and to adapt to variations in the nature and quality of raw materials, as well as to frequent market fluctuations. Each product generally has its own manufacturing process, consisting of a succession of stages linked by technical constraints or prior art relationships.

The specific characteristics of the process industries have led process engineering specialists to focus for several years now on problems linked to the scheduling and design of batch plants, which contribute to supply chain management.

This article reviews the methods used in both scheduling and workshop design for process industries, and presents the current challenges.