The Process Control/Operational Research Interface

Abstract

The process engineer is committed to improving the operation of his process by (i) building models of his processes and (ii) developing control systems which will incorporate such models and lead to optimum plant operation. Such studies almost always lead to significant changes in the operating constraints and costs and this in turn, will affect decisions at the Inventory and Production Control level. Operational research work on resource allocation affects the direction of work at the process control level. The skills and techniques required by the process engineering team are many and often overlap those of the operational research team in their interdisciplinary nature.

An example is presented of what may be referred to as a combined operational research/process engineering study undertaken in a continuous processing industry (cement manufacture). The first results obtained from this study are being implemented and the advantages to the company at present are indicated.