Chemical production planning via goal programming

Production planning in a chemical plant requires determination of production quantities for several intermediate and final products. The production plan must satisfy several absolute requirements (material balances, production capacities, etc.) and conflicting objectives (profits, costs, sales limits, environmental pressures, equipment utilization and other engineering objectives). A goal programming approach for chemical production planning is presented and illustrated by means of an industrial case study example along with implications and extensions of the basic model. The presentation is kept simple so that it is understood by students and practitioners interested in chemical process planning.