Presenter: Jean André
Operations Research & Data Science Team Manager, International Expert
Research & Development
Leveraging an Optimization Platform across the Air
Liquide company
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
About me and Air Liquide
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Jean André
Operations Research & Data Science Team Manager
PhD in Operations Research , nearly 20 years of decision support tools development in different areas :
•road traffic simulation, gas pipeline design,
• supply chain optimization, energy risk management
Really passionate to make an impact on companies in the course of transformation (digital right now in Air Liquide)
I know AIMMS for more than 10 years
Air Liquide : The world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are
essential small molecules for life, matter and energy.
Air Liquide | Key figures
More than
50000employees
Yearly Turnover
16,4Mds €
Present in
80countries
More than
2 millions
Customers & Patients
2015
Following Airgas acquisition
* as of May 2016
More than
68000employees
Yearly Turnover
>20Mds €
Present in
80countries
More than
3 millionsCustomers &
Patients
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
Supply modes@Air Liquide
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Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
Supply Chain Stakes: Drivers for optimization
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https://www.airliquide.com/group/2016-sustainable-development-report
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
My vision & beliefs > My passion: Making easy access of optimization modeling to everyone across the company
> As of today: Supply Chain(s) Optimization(s)@Air Liquide
• Real Time Production Optimizer/Gas & Liquid Production planning
• Inventory Routing Problem www.challenge.roadef.org
• Tactical sourcing and asset management
• Cylinder Supply chain Dispatching
> What will the ‘relevant world’ look like 10 yrs from now?
• Enterprise Wide Optimization
• Streamlined data flow
• Full supply chains integration
• Shared data with customers
• Analytics tool everywhere
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Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
Our challenges for optimization projects
> Organization challenges
• Integration of decision support tools into day to day operational and business processes
• Make or buy : In house developments or leverage external expertise
• Transferring knowledge out of R&D
> Generating Buy-in
• Involvement from the beginning of an optimization project
• Training & Training
• No IT hurdles (streamlined installation, IT environment integration,
connections to databases)
• INTERACTIVITY!
> Overcoming resistance
• Complex modeling/coding for end-users
• Relying on one single reference platform against local optimization developments
• Prices vs short-mid term benefits
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Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
Our Journey to bridge the gap with AIMMS > Getting started
• Early introduction of AIMMS through R&D proofs of concepts 8 years ago
• Affiliates developed and customized their own applications (Power Real Time Optimizer, Liquid Production Optimizer…) usually
supported with external partners linked to academia: Has helped to show the value
> Current state / maturity level
• AIMMS is THE OPTIMIZATION PLATFORM for the Large Industry (Gas Production) business line for any optimization projects:
Developers / AIMMS Specialist team are localized at platform and local levels
• AIMMS PRO has been used and implemented to the Benelux Pipeline Optimizers for Hydrogen and Air Gases with support from
external partner
> Personal reflection
• AIMMS is an attractive tool and a vector of optimization projects.
• Huge step: No more discussions /debates on the right tool only focus on optimization modeling now.
> Future vision/plans
• Expanding the concept of standard platforms to the Supply Chains Optimization (Industrial Merchant)
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HIGH
Yesterday
Today
Tomorrow
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
AIMMS applications example
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXtgZeDENWc
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
How AIMMS empowers: Core Engine NEW concept
> Collective learning is the main driver for developing the core engine
• How much experience has been re-used in terms of models, architecture,…?
• Have we learned sufficiently from failures and from each other ?
• Did we really build know how ?
> Core Engine concept enabled by AIMMS : Generic Plant Modeling to be used for all Air Plants
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Back to basics: 7 basic elements with standard parametric equations: - pipe - valves - compressor - cold box - liquefier - storage - backup pump
An architecture is an the assembly of basic elements with connection nodes and associated parameters.
After reading the architecture and parameters, the core engine automatically generates the mathematical model
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
How AIMMS empowers: Core Engine NEW concept
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> Benefits
• Fast model development and roll out
• Configuration of applications rather than programming
• Integration within data centers
• High maintainability since the program code is unique for all applications WW
Supply Chain & Logistics
Barcelona Summit 2017
Next steps with AIMMS
> Expand AIMMS as a full Descriptive, Predictive, Prescriptive Analytics platform
• Data handling/crunching and statistical toolkit to fit models and equations to real life data
• Predictive models/Machine Learning algorithms for demand forecasting for example
> Moving from Windows to Web User Interface
• Browser technology – app frontend can be run on a tablet
• Responsive design, your widget layout depends on screen size
• Quickly evolving, based on client preferences
> Digital use of AIMMS across Air Liquide Supply Chains
• Connected trailers
• Real time traffic information
• Mobile applications
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Questions?
Thank you!
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