Faculty Involved: Androulakis, Constantinides, Davidson, Ierapetritou

Research in this area focuses on the development of computer aided tools for addressing design and operations issues arising at various stages of product and process design and process operations by developing and analyzing efficient models and solution methodologies. Specific issues considered include: the optimal allocation of resources and best utilization of available production time, namely short-term scheduling and long-range planning of batch and continuous industrial plants; the incorporation of uncertainty introduced by approximate models due to incomplete and erroneous process data, as well as external disturbances such as demand variations, price fluctuations, material availability and equipment failure; the consideration of environmental performance measures into the early process and product design stages so that less pollution and waste is generated through the reduction of energy consumption, the use of alternative materials featuring the desired properties, and the development of new cleaner products thus resulting in environmentally benign manufacturing. uncertainty introduced by approximate models due to incomplete and erroneous process.