Simulation studies in a hot mill facility

The author illustrates several phases of a simulation study done in a hot mill facility for a prominent US steel producer. The first phase of the study focuses on operational and material handling issues for the hot mill banding, weighing, and marking stations. The next phase provides additional support for the objectives of the first phase, along with technology transfer and training to support practical operations at the client´s site. The final phase addresses strategic issues at downstream operations from the hot mill banding, weighing, and marking line, and the impact of any operational strategy on the whole system. The models for this project have been developed using the AUTOMOD II simulation software and were executed on an IRIS-Silicon Graphics workstation. The focus of the present work is to interpret the results obtained in the first completed phase and to share the experience of the whole project in terms of lessons learned. The author also points out the extensibility and the synergistic advantages that can be obtained by focusing at an early stage on the customer´s short- and long-term goals and objectives