Broner Starts up Scheduler Enhancements for Corus Strip Products
09/15/2008 - Broner Metals Solutions implements Phase 1 of a production scheduler enhancements project for Corus Strip Products in Llanwern, U.K.
Broner Metals Solutions has successfully implemented Phase 1 of a production scheduler enhancements project for Corus Strip Products in Llanwern, U.K.
New enhancements were designed help the facility respond to opportunities that were identified when implementing Production Scheduler (PS), and will further improve scheduling capabilities. Some of the new functions include:
- ‘Feeder groups’, which enable the use of second-choice material as necessary to fill gaps in the schedule.
- ‘Minimum batching’, which allows the specification of a rule which will try to complete a minimum batch of material limited by user-defined characteristics, and highlight a sharing violation if that is not possible.
- ‘Violation limits’, which enables the definition of violations.
- Improved scheduling information around specific areas of production.
Phase 2 of the PS enhancement project, scheduled to go live in the near future, will add extra capabilities to Production Scheduler, including improved scheduling information, particularly around coils scheduling, and a new ‘Conserve and Consume’ functionality that allows users to define a scheduling strategy for using material that is in short supply and needed for more than one position in the schedule.
Shirley Solomon, Project Executive at Corus Strip Products, stated that the Phase 1 functionality together with support of the Project team is helping the plant to generate more automated and accurate schedules, with a reduced amount of editing, which removes the potential for errors and inconsistencies.
Corus, an international company, provides steel and aluminium products and services to customers worldwide. With an annual turnover of over £9 billion, the company comprises four Divisions: Strip Products, Long Products, and Distribution & Building Systems. Corus Strip Products UK, part of the Strip Products Division, produces hot rolled steel strip and cold rolled and metallic coated steel.
Corus is a subsidiary of Tata Steel, the world’s fifth largest and second most global steel producer. With a combined presence in nearly 50 countries, Tata Steel has 84,000 employees across five continents and crude steel production of 27 million tonnes in 2007.
Broner Metals Solutions specializes entirely in delivering value to the steel and aluminum industries, and provides supply chain planning, scheduling and manufacturing execution systems and consultancy.
The Broner Metals Solutions team has 30 years experience in improving the performance of metals supply chains worldwide. Broner is the global corporate standard supplier of production scheduling and MES solutions to the world’s largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, as well as Dofasco, Corus, Cosipa, CSN, Gerdau, Nippon Steel, Norandal, OMK, Taiyuan Steel (TISCO), TMK and Usiminas.
Broner Metals Solutions is part of Hyperion Systems Engineering Ltd.
