Many companies initiate mill capacity reviews as part of their strategic planning. Typically, the capacity of the existing equipment is rated and areas of undercapacity-- actual or potential bottlenecks--are identified.
Cost-effective results
Sandwell has conducted nearly 20 mill-wide capacity reviews, and dozens more for specific process areas. This accumulation of experience, expertise and data enables us to provide cost-effective and accurate results, with insight. Our results are used by clients to support annual engineering budgets, five-year plans, process improvement projects and mill expansion projects.
Central to our analysis is a sophisticated computer model that calculates material quantities and flows at various points in the process, and uses this information along with industry-recognized capacity factors and actual equipment dimensions to estimate the nominal capacity of each major piece of equipment. In further steps, these nominal capacity figures are converted to daily production capabilities for each piece of equipment.
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Identifying short- and long-term objectives
Once the capacity of the existing equipment has been established, we generally identify short- and long-term objectives for mill production, with options for increasing the capacity of various pieces of equipment together with feasibility-grade capital costs. Opportunities for process improvement, energy saving and pollution abatement are also identified at this time. The review may also produce peripheral benefits such as identifying problems with instrumentation, accounting procedures, analytical methods or operating practices.
By pinpointing ways to maximize the output or efficiency of the existing facilities, a mill capacity review enables companies to formulate meaningful strategic plans that focus capital and other resources on modifications producing improved performance and greater competitiveness.
