Analysis, Simulation and Optimization of the Milking Process in a Cowshed for the Production of Parmigiano Reggiano
-
Mattia Armenzoni
,
Marta Rinaldi
Abstract
The aim of this study is to optimize the milking process of a cowshed, located near Parma (Italy), which provides milk to some dairy companies, for the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The ultimate goal of the analysis is to reduce the time required for milking operations, thus optimizing the whole management of the farm processes. A discrete-event simulation model is designed under Simul8™ to reproduce the main processes of the cowshed and the movements of the animals inside the cowshed, before and after milking. The model exploits real data collected from the direct observation of the farm and is validated by comparing the results provided with the real performance of the milking activities. Then, it is used to test two new configurations of the cowshed layout and to assess their performance, in terms of the total time required for milking. Interesting savings in the total milking time are found.
References
1. European Commission. 2015. Milk and milk products. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/milk/index_en.htm. Accessed: 4 May 2015.Search in Google Scholar
2. Bellesia F, Pinetti A, Pagnoni U, Rinaldi R, Zucchi C, Caglioti L, et al. Volatile components of Grana Parmigiano-Reggiano type hard cheese. Food Chem 2003;83:55–61. doi:10.1016/S0308-8146(03)00037-2.Search in Google Scholar
3. Zannoni M. Evolution of the sensory characteristics of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to the present day. Food Qual Preference 2010;21:901–5. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2010.01.004.Search in Google Scholar
4. Regione Emilia-Romagna. 2014. La filiera del Parmigiano Reggiano – Latte, produzione, mercato. Available at: http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/urp/allegati/SpecAgric_Giugno_2014Web.pdf. Accessed: 4 May 2015.Search in Google Scholar
5. Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano. 2011. Disciplinare di produzione del formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano. Available at: https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/files/e/0/4/D.c8955158b36b0dff6455/Disciplinare_parmigiano_reggiano.pdf. Accessed: 4 May 2015.Search in Google Scholar
6. Bruijnis M, Hogeveen H, Stassen E. Assessing economic consequences of foot disorders in dairy cattle using a dynamic stochastic simulation model. J Dairy Sci 2010;93:2419–32.10.3168/jds.2009-2721Search in Google Scholar
7. Halachmi I, Adan I, van der Wald J, van Beek P, Heesterbeek J. Designing the optimal robotic milking barn by applying a queuing network approach. Agric Syst 2003;76:681–96.10.1016/S0308-521X(02)00086-0Search in Google Scholar
8. Axelrod R. The complexity of cooperation: agent-based models of competition and collaboration. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1997.10.1515/9781400822300Search in Google Scholar
9. Waldrop M. Complexity: the emerging science at the edge of order and chaos. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.10.1063/1.2809917Search in Google Scholar
10. Harrison J, Carroll G, Carley K. Simulation modeling in organizational and management research. Acad Manage Rev 2007;32:1229–45.10.5465/amr.2007.26586485Search in Google Scholar
11. Bottani E, Cecconi M, Vignali G, Montanari R. Optimisation of storage allocation in order picking operations through a genetic algorithm. Int J Logist Res Appl 2012;15:127–46.10.1080/13675567.2012.694860Search in Google Scholar
12. Hagspihl R, Visagie S. The number of pickers and stock-keeping unit arrangement on a unidirectional picking line. S Afr J Ind Eng 2014;25:169–83.10.7166/25-3-886Search in Google Scholar
13. Dias L, Pereira G, Vik P, Oliveira J. Layout and process optimisation: using computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation through an integrated systems design tool. Int J Simul Process Model 2014;9:46–62.10.1504/IJSPM.2014.061437Search in Google Scholar
14. Longo F, Massei M, Nicoletti L. An application of modeling and simulation to support industrial plants design. Int J Model Simul Sci Comput 2012;3:Article number 1240001. doi:10.1142/S1793962312400016.Search in Google Scholar
15. Bottani E, Ferretti G, Montanari R, Rinaldi M. Analysis and optimization of inventory management policies for perishable food products: a simulation study. Int J Simul Process Model 2014;9:16–32.10.1504/IJSPM.2014.061429Search in Google Scholar
16. Verwater-Lukszo Z, Christina T. System-dynamics modelling to improve complex inventory management in a batch-wise plant. Comput Aided Chem Eng 2005;20:1357–62.10.1016/S1570-7946(05)80068-9Search in Google Scholar
17. Longo F, Nicoletti L, Chiurco A, Solis A, Massei M, Diaz R. Investigating the behavior of a shop order manufacturing system by using simulation. Simul Series 2013;45:47–54.Search in Google Scholar
18. Chen L, Pidd M. High performance simulation in quasi-continuous manufacturing plants. In: Proceedings of the 2005 Winter Simulation Conference, 2005:1367–72.Search in Google Scholar
19. Cassettari L, Giribone P, Mosca M, Mosca R. The stochastic analysis of investments in industrial plants by simulation models with control of experimental error: theory and application to a real business case. Appl Math Sci 2010;4:3823–40.Search in Google Scholar
20. Bruzzone A, Longo F. An advanced modeling & simulation tool for investigating the behavior of a manufacturing system in the hazelnuts industry sector. Int J Food Eng 2015;9:241–57.10.1515/ijfe-2013-0039Search in Google Scholar
21. Iannone R, Miranda S, Riemma S, De Marco I. Combined semi-continuous and discrete simulation model to optimize a decaffeination process based on supercritical CO2. Chem Eng Trans 2015;43:1453–8.Search in Google Scholar
22. Marchini D, Rinaldi M, Montanari R, Bottani E, Solari F. Performance analysis of the water supply system of a dairy company by means of an advanced simulation tool. Int J Food Eng 2014;10(4):557–71.10.1515/ijfe-2013-0067Search in Google Scholar
23. Marchini D, Rinaldi M, Montanari R, Bottani E, Solari F. Temperature analysis of the water supply system of a dairy company by means of a simulation model. Int J Food Eng 2015;11:731–45.10.1515/ijfe-2015-0065Search in Google Scholar
24. Preisler H, Ager A, Johnson B, Kie J. Modeling animal movements using stochastic differential equations. Environmetrics 2004;15:643–57.10.1002/env.636Search in Google Scholar
25. Waters A, Blanchett F, Kim A. Modeling huddling penguins. PLoS ONE 2012;7:e50277. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050277.Search in Google Scholar
26. Santarlasci A, Martelloni G, Frizzi F, Santini G, Bagnoli F. Modeling warfare in social animals: a “chemical” approach. PLoS ONE 2014;9:e111310. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111310.Search in Google Scholar
27. Hammer M, Champy J. Reengineering the corporation: a manifesto for business revolution. New York: Harper Business, 1993.10.1016/S0007-6813(05)80064-3Search in Google Scholar
28. Jialina B, Mingqianga W, Zhonglina L, Cheswortha J. The milking performance of dual-purpose crossbred yaks. Anim Sci 1998;66:471–3. doi:10.1017/S1357729800009632.Search in Google Scholar
29. Pearson K. Notes on regression and inheritance in the case of two parents. Proc R Soc London 1895;58:240–2.10.1098/rspl.1895.0041Search in Google Scholar
30. Concannon K, Elder M, Hindle K, Tremble J, Tse S. 2007. Simulation modelling with Simul8TM. Visual Thinking International. Available at: www.simtech.hu/_data/VFS_6084183539ff1c826da47589a021838c.pdf. Accessed: 2 Aug 2014.Search in Google Scholar
31. Law A, Kelton W. Simulation modeling and analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1991.Search in Google Scholar
32. Kleijnen J. Verification and validation of simulation models. Eur J Oper Res 1995;82:145–62.10.1016/0377-2217(94)00016-6Search in Google Scholar
33. Fisher J. Guinness, Gosset, Fisher, and small samples. Stat Sci 1987;2:45–52. doi:10.1214/ss/1177013437.Search in Google Scholar
©2016 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Special Issue “Selected Papers from the First International Food Operations & Processing Simulation Workshop – FoodOPS 2015 (September 21–23, 2015, Bergeggi, Italy)”
- Special Section: Articles from the first FoodOPS 2015
- Life Cycle Assessment of a New Feed Production Obtained by Wasted Flour Food Collected from the Distribution and Retail Phases
- Vendor-Managed Inventory Practice in the Supermarket Supply Chain
- Breakage Characteristics of Granulated Food Products for Prediction of Attrition during Lean-Phase Pneumatic Conveying
- Analysis, Simulation and Optimization of the Milking Process in a Cowshed for the Production of Parmigiano Reggiano
- Study and Optimization of a CO2 Sparger for Carbonated Beverages and Beer by Means of CFD Modeling
- CFD Analysis of Coffee Packaging in Capsules using Gas Flushing Modified Atmosphere Packaging
- Regular Research Articles
- Developing an Effective Method to Determine the Heat Transfer Model in Fish Myofibrillar Protein Paste with Computer Simulation Considering the Phase Transition on Various Dimensions
- A Comparative Modeling Study of Quince Infrared Drying and Evaluation of Quality Parameters
- Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polyurethane Foams from Liquefied Sugar Beet Pulp
- Effect of Drying on Porous Characteristics of Orange Peel
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Special Issue “Selected Papers from the First International Food Operations & Processing Simulation Workshop – FoodOPS 2015 (September 21–23, 2015, Bergeggi, Italy)”
- Special Section: Articles from the first FoodOPS 2015
- Life Cycle Assessment of a New Feed Production Obtained by Wasted Flour Food Collected from the Distribution and Retail Phases
- Vendor-Managed Inventory Practice in the Supermarket Supply Chain
- Breakage Characteristics of Granulated Food Products for Prediction of Attrition during Lean-Phase Pneumatic Conveying
- Analysis, Simulation and Optimization of the Milking Process in a Cowshed for the Production of Parmigiano Reggiano
- Study and Optimization of a CO2 Sparger for Carbonated Beverages and Beer by Means of CFD Modeling
- CFD Analysis of Coffee Packaging in Capsules using Gas Flushing Modified Atmosphere Packaging
- Regular Research Articles
- Developing an Effective Method to Determine the Heat Transfer Model in Fish Myofibrillar Protein Paste with Computer Simulation Considering the Phase Transition on Various Dimensions
- A Comparative Modeling Study of Quince Infrared Drying and Evaluation of Quality Parameters
- Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polyurethane Foams from Liquefied Sugar Beet Pulp
- Effect of Drying on Porous Characteristics of Orange Peel
