Decision-Making for Biomass-Based Production Chains: The Basic Concepts and Methodologies

Decision-making for Biomass-based Production Chains presents a comprehensive study of the key-issues integrating strategic, tactical and operational decision levels for supply chains in the biomass, biofuels and biorefining sectors. Its first part introduces biomass resources, harvesting, collection, storage and distribution systems. It explores technical and technological background of production systems, supply chains and logistics networks, as well as uncertainty and sustainability issues. The second part examines the basics of decision-making in this field. The author describes the main problems and decision levels encountered in design, management and operation phases, focusing on multi-criteria and multi-objective decision-making modeling techniques, including mathematical, simulation-based, and artificial intelligence-based modeling, and methods to solve the modeled problems. Examples of real cases are supplied in each chapter, as well as a discussion and comparative analysis of the topics covered. Finally, a general discussion chapter integrates the information from previous chapters. It provides a detailed perspective, main research gaps, suggestions for filling these gaps and recommendations for future research in this field. Engineering researchers and practitioners find, in Decision-making for Biomass-based Production Chains, methodologies and a clear vision of the advances in the field. Graduate students and those starting in this line of research also find information on how to model this kind of complex system. Finally, it can be used as a guide for the non-expert industry decision makers and government policy makers who desire to have an overview of this industry.

Examines analytic methodologies for complex decision-making when designing, deploying and managing biomass and bio-based products supply chainsIncludes an overview and real life examples of main sustainability indicators, standards and certification schemes from the European Union, United States and worldwideExplores the progress of decision-making procedures to provide a detailed perspective for effective selection of the most reliable solutions for each kind of problemProvides detailed in-depth analysis of various models and frameworks for implementation, challenges and solutionsPresents multi-criteria and multi-objective decision-making and modeling approaches, including mathematical modeling, simulation-based modeling, and artificial intelligence-based modeling

1. Introduction to biomass – resources, production, harvesting, collection and storage 2. Biomass based production systems 3. Biomass based supply chains and logistics networks 4. Sustainability issues in biomass based production chains 5. Uncertainty issues in biomass based production chains 6. Basics of decision making in design and management of biomass based production chains 7. Modelling and optimization approaches in design and management of biomass based production chains