Batching annealing operations to optimize queueing times and furnace efficiency: a simulation model

Describes a simulation model representing the annealing operations in a rolling-mill facility. The model was developed using the discrete event simulation language SIMAN. The model integrates a user friendly interface through which the user interacts with the simulation model without programming or recompiling. The simulation model also integrates external subroutines to optimize the batching of jobs and their sequencing so as to minimize flow-times and lateness and maximize the annealing furnace efficiency. The optimization approach relies mainly on a data-driven adaptive estimation of the lot sizes based on a queuing model formulation