A Decision Support System For Raw Materials procurement And Finished Goods Supply Logistics Of Arncoastal Integrated Steel Plant

摘要

This paper deals with the development and implementation of a Decision Support System (DSS) for inbound raw materials logistics and 'back-to-back' supply of finished goods for a new coastal integrated steel plant. The problem under Study is a hierarchical in nature with strategic/design, tactical and operational planning dimensions. The logistics decision problem of the steel plant under consideration has such sub-problems as selection of suppliers, quantities to be brought from each supplier in each period, selection of optimal vessel size, ship schedule evaluation, selection and scheduling of barge mix, the schedules for lightering of raw materials to barges, and dispatch schedule of Hot Rolled Coils loaded barges for loading into ships. We have used a composite modeling approach for solving the problem. We have developed various models. These model have been properly integrated with necessary databases and developed a DSS for the logistics problems of this study. The DSS is used by the company for the procurement of raw materials and back-to-back integrated supply of finished goods.