A simulation model for equipment selection in a steel plant

A simulation model was developed to determine the optimal policy for utilization and replacement of moving equipment in a steel plant. Specifically, this paper deals with the problem of slag removal in a melt-shop composed of a batch of five electric-arc furnaces. The environment of high temperatures in which service has to take place leads to conditions of frequent equipment break-down and a dynamic rescheduling of activities, which makes the use of simulation a necessity. One important feature that was included in the model was the process of "aging", that is, that service time is a function of the number of minutes that the slag has been waiting for its removal.