Sustainable integrated production, distribution and maintenance optimization for a multi-refinery/multi storage tanks system in downstream fuel supply chain

Abstract

Purpose New production, maintenance and distribution activities within a multi-site and multi-demand refinery environment. A periodic preventive maintenance strategy is established for each refining machine and storage tank. The strategy is based on the impact of the production rate on the degradation rate of the refining machines and relies on experimental studies that highlight the correlation between production rates and storage tank failure rates due to corrosion. Design/methodology/approach The present paper proposes a new approach to effectively managing production, maintenance and distribution activities within a multi-site and multi-demand refinery environment, aiming to minimize total costs. Numerical examples and sensitivity analyses, including a detailed numerical case study, are presented to confirm the effectiveness of integrated strategies and show their ability to optimally solve the complex challenges faced by refineries. Findings This study proposes a novel integrated framework that simultaneously optimizes production, maintenance and distribution planning in multi-site downstream fuel supply chains, aiming to enhance coordination and cost-effectiveness through advanced modeling and validation using real industrial data. Originality/value This study emphasizes the influence of production dynamics on the ageing and deterioration of refinery equipment. The originality lies in the integration of experimental evidence that elucidates the correlation between operational throughput and storage tank failure rates induced by corrosion.