Knowledge Manager Production Scheduler from ABB
New solution to manage and optimize production planning and scheduling in cement plants
ABB, the specialist power and automation technology group, have launched Knowledge Manager Production Scheduler, a new software solution designed to manage and optimize production scheduling in cement plants.
The system provides the customers with optimal planning functionalities based on real-time information, considering production goals and business constraints as well as volatile energy tariffs, to help increase the overall process efficiency.
Frequently varying production constraints in a cement plant – eg a reduction in equipment performance, fast increasing material stock or a failure in one of the production lines – demand immediate adjustments to the production schedule, making production scheduling one of the most important activities for plant or production managers in order to achieve maximum operational efficiency.
ABB have bundled their cement process knowledge to develop their Knowledge Manager Production Scheduler, which allows the user to create, evaluate and compare multiple scenarios before deciding which one to use.
These scenarios are readily available when a production situation changes so that plant managers can quickly activate them, as making the right changes can bring significant benefits, such as cost savings for energy consumption, optimized stock management or enhanced equipment performance.
Key features of Knowledge Manager Production Scheduler include: forecast of inventory and energy consumption; setting of goals and configuration of constraints; and scenario management.
ABB say the solution has been successfully tested for more than a year at selected pilot plants belonging to Holcim, leading to the decision to roll out the Production Scheduler globally. More than 20 installations were completed during 2014, with more planned for the coming months.
The Production Scheduler is a new add-on to Knowledge Manager, one of ABB’s collaborative production management solutions (CPM) for the cement industry. Knowledge Manager collects, stores, consolidates and presents relevant information while making it easily accessible to all relevant stakeholders. With ABB’s CPM solutions, all operation, control, optimization and business systems are integrated into one.
