SCHEDULING NEEDS OF THE FOOD-PROCESSING INDUSTRY

The performance of food processing plants depends on operators and managers making correct and timely decisions. Without computer-aided scheduling tools production staff cannot see the full consequences of their actions. The 'knock-on' effects resulting from these decisions include tying up essential equipment, delaying completion of orders and adding to overtime costs. As a result, productivity is reduced, customers are disappointed and profits suffer. The paper discusses a knowledge based system providing expert information to assist operators and production management to make decisions in complex production operating environments. The system is unique in that it uses modelling techniques to replicate factory operations and has many facilities which are specific to the food industry, such as CIP and the processing of multiple products. It has been applied in pilot form to a number of practical applications of ice cream and yogurt production, and yielded interesting results in improving efficiency and understanding plant operations.