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Batch processes are characterized by a high degree of flexibility that can be appropriately exploited to obtain a maximum production profit. In principle, the nominal production recipe assumes an optimum balance between quality and costs for batches of products. However, in practice, this optimum performance is achieved only when this balance is extended to management of the entire batch plant. In this work, a framework is presented that fully exploits this inner flexibility of batch processes at the plant level. The framework considers a batch recipe model that interacts with a plant-wide model to constitute the so-called flexible recipe model. First, the potential use of this framework is shown by integrating a general multipurpose batch process scheduling algorithm into a general linear recipe model. Next, this framework is illustrated in practice using a real industrial scenario that exhibits complex recipe behavior. Finally, the benefits of considering the flexible recipe concept for the scheduling of batch processes are discussed.

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This paper addresses scheduling and planning with financial management in the batch chemical process industries. A cash flow and budgeting model is coupled with an advanced scheduling and planning procedure for a specific multipurpose batch specialty chemical plant. To motivate the use of an integrated model, a sequential scheme is first solved. Hence, the scheduling and planning problem of the batch specialty chemical plant is optimized in order to fulfill the due date policy. Then, a deterministic cash management model is optimized to maximize the enterprise earnings, using the cash flows of the scheduling-planning model as parameters. As a result, owing to the fulfillment of customer requirements, the solvency of the firm changes, and hence, the funding policy is affected. The results of the sequential approach are then compared with the integrated model highlighting the advantage of the latter option. Here, production scheduling-planning and cash management are optimized in unison with a common objective of maximizing earnings. The model development made in this paper and the results suggest that a new conceptual approach in enterprise management systems consisting of the integration of the enterprise finance models with the company operations models is a must to improve the firm's reliability and its overall earnings.