Author(s)

Carlos E. Escobar Toledo, Claudia Garcia Aranda, Bertrand Mareschal

Faculty of Chemistry, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
Solvay School of Business Administration, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.

A methodology to solve a large and complex problem is proposed. OR methods as Multilevel Planning, Network Techniques, Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) and Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) were used to structure the methodology. One of the principal objectives of this work is reduce the complexity of a large problem and solve it to find the better solution for the decision makers. The methodology is applied to a petrochemical industry of Mexico, which is structured in a network, having different alternative routes of production; each of them having also a different technology. This network begins from the crude oil as raw material in order to produce the basic petrochemicals until finals ones. It has been considered that basic petrochemicals will be produced through a set of Refineries with a high production of basic petrochemicals yield, searching the best configuration among it, according with the needs of basic petrochemicals coming from the final’s and its best route selected.

Multiple Criteria Analysis, Multilevel Planning, Network Flows, Linear and Integer Programming, Petrochemical Industry Assessment

C. Toledo, C. Aranda and B. Mareschal, "Petrochemical Industry: Assessment and Planning Using Multicriteria Decision Aid Methods," Technology and Investment, Vol. 1 No. 2, 2010, pp. 118-134. doi: 10.4236/ti.2010.12015.