Cellar Tank Piping Network Analysis – UA04-Gallo

This project researches an optimal pipe routing path algorithm and develops an approach for segmenting operations into "suboperations" to improve optimization model tractability.

Sponsor:

E&J Gallo

Research Team:

Scott J. Mason, Eray Cakici, Jun Jia, Abraham J. Lachowsky, Letitia M. Pohl, C. Richard Cassady, Pingjian Yu

Universities Involved:

University of Arkansas

Start Date:

01/01/04

End Date:

12/31/04

Summary:

This project modeled and analyzed Gallo’s Modesto cellar tank piping network so that Gallo can determine, given a set of input conditions, the routing path for wine through the cellar tank piping network that minimizes wine damage and optimizes cellar tank and piping network resources.
Researchers in the Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas (“UA”), through the Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution (CELDi), will partner with E&J Gallo to model and analyze the current Cellar Tank Piping Network. The UA proposes this research partnership begin on January 1, 2004, with the final project deliverables (see below) being presented to E&J Gallo on or before December 31, 2004. The proposed research will involve an evaluation by the UA of the current Cellar Tank Piping Network to determine current operational procedures, to examine any existing resource dedication constraints, and to uncover capacity issues.
The researchers formulated and developed a heuristic solution procedures for routing flows through an extensive network of tanks and pipes.