Optimal Selection of Ingot Sizes Via Set Covering

F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf and K. L. Stott
Additional contact information
F. J. Vasko: Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
F. E. Wolf: Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
K. L. Stott: Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Operations Research, 1987, vol. 35, issue 3, 346-353

Abstract: In 1984, Bethlehem Steel Corporation installed a new ingot mold stripping facility at its Bethlehem Plant that is capable of handling taller ingots. In order to take maximum advantage of this new facility, we developed a two-phase, computer-based procedure for selecting optimal ingot and internal ingot mold dimensions. Phase I of this procedure generates feasible ingot and internal ingot mold dimensions consistent with both the new stripper's capability and with mill constraints. Phase II then uses a set covering approach to select the optimal ingot and internal ingot mold sizes from among the feasible sizes generated. After analyzing the model, we recommended six new rectangular mold sizes to replace seven existing sizes. To date, implementation of these new ingot and mold sizes is proceeding smoothly and realizing the projected cost reduction benefits.

Keywords: 332 steel ingot production; 634 set covering; 637 steel ingot sizing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1987
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/opre.35.3.346 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:oropre:v:35:y:1987:i:3:p:346-353

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Operations Research from INFORMS Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Asher ().