Simulation Modelling of Sugarcane Harvesting and Transport Delays

systems in different industries (Blanchard and Fabrycky, 1-981; Hoekstra, 1975; Semenzato, 1995) and it was conReducing the between the harvesting and crushing of cluded that simulation modelling was the most appropriate for sugarcane can result in substantial reductions in the loss of the situation of sugarcane harvesting and transport and hence recoverable sugar caused by cane deterioration. The investithe aims of the project ('unpublished seminar). The Arena gation of methods of reducing the harvest-to-crush delay simulation system (Pegden et al., 1995) was chosen as the requires the use of some form of coniputer model to evaluate software with which to develop the model. Simulation modelthe effects of proposed changes to cane harvesting and ling as it is used in this project involves using time delays to port systems. describe various processes and combining them in a manner Simulation modelling has been identified as a highly effective which represents the way the various processes interact in the technique for sugarcane harvesting and transport real system. Entities (in this case, tons of cane) are passed Systems. The Use of Arena ~imulation software to develop a through the model and in this way the variability and model of the Sezela mill and its supply area is reported and interactions in a system can be analysed (Pegden et al., 1995). initial results from experiments conducted with the model are In this paper, the development of an initial model of harvespresented. The main output examined is overall harvest-toting and transport systems in the Sezela mill is presented, crush delay, but machinery requirements and utilisation are along with results from a sensitivity analysis conducted on also discussed. this model.