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A decision support system to manage the supply chain of sugar cane

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Abstract

In this work the authors present a Decision Support System (DSS) for planning daily operations in the sugar cane supply chain. The supply chain model is based on a mixed integer linear programming model. The model objective is to minimize transportation costs while assuring cane supply to the sugar mill. The model determines the fields to harvest, the cutting-loading-transport means for such operation, and the roster for each employee. The DSS has been tested under Cuban conditions but easily can be adapted to different situations updating the parameters of the model. Reported savings represent an 8 % of the fuel cost.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Holguin, Av. XX Aniversario, gaveta 57, CP 80100, Holguín, Cuba

    Esteban López-Milán

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of Lleida, Jaume II, 73, 25001, Lleida, Spain

    Lluis M. Plà-Aragonés

Authors
  1. Esteban López-Milán
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  2. Lluis M. Plà-Aragonés
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Correspondence to Lluis M. Plà-Aragonés.

Appendix: The mathematical model

Appendix: The mathematical model

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(16)

where:

C ijklm =c k ⋅d i,j ::

represents the economic coefficients.

Co i ::

represents the opportunity coefficients.

X ijklm ::

are the decision variables.

c k ::

is the specific economic coefficient related to transport k. As it is shown, the way and time in which the cane is cut make no difference because these economic coefficients are just representing transportation costs.

d ij ::

is the distance between origin i and destination j.

Co i ::

opportunity coefficient which represents the preference to cut a field, Co i ≤1.

TM k ::

total transport force of means type k expressed in hours of work

$$ \mathit{CR}_{ijkl} = \frac{D_{ij} \cdot( \frac{1}{Vcc_{k}} + \frac{1}{Vsc_{k}} ) + Tc_{kl}}{Cc_{k}} $$
(17)

where:

D ij ::

Distances from origin i to destination j.

Vcc k ::

Speed of the given carriage means k, with load.

Vsc k ::

Speed of the given carriage means k, without load.

Tc kl ::

Waiting time of carriage means k, with cutting system l.

Cc k ::

Loading capacity of carriage means k.

Cap i :

is the production of sugar cane in field i.

B ilm ∈{0,1}:

is the binary variable controlling possible combinations origin-cutting mean per hour.

Prod l ::

production per hour of each l-group of cutting means.

Y il ∈{0,1}:

is the binary variable representing if the cutting mean l has been working or not on field i during the working day.

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López-Milán, E., Plà-Aragonés, L.M. A decision support system to manage the supply chain of sugar cane. Ann Oper Res 219, 285–297 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-013-1361-0

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