Khaled Mabrouk Operational Engineering Leader - SPS

Presentation Outline Ag/Produce Business in California Operational Engineering & Farming Produce Cooler Processes Produce Cooler Simulation

America’s Salad Bowl Top Crop States: CA $44.7B, IA 31.9, NE 24.4, TX 22.7, MN 20.5 CA generates 15% of USA crops, and 50+% of USA grown fruits, nuts, and vegs Watsonville & Salinas Valley generates $4.7B

Along Central Coast (South of Bay Area)

Produce Business Some companies only fill one or two of these roles, and some are totally vertically integrated.

High Level Look at Growing Process

Detailed Look at Growing Process

OE & Produce Growers Shippers Optimization models for field planting selection Best Practice Standard Work for field work Predictive Maintenance for Field Equipment Simulation of Produce Coolers

Produce Cooler Example

Produce Cooler Processes

Arrival Rates

Cooling Approach By Product

Produce Cooler Challenges Produce degrades quickly Must be in cooler within 2.5 hours of harvesting, takes minutes for product to arrive Each product has it’s own cooling requirements; process and time in process Different forklifts for inside vs. outside cooler; concern about emission affect on product

Produce Cooler – Simulation Challenges Must keep track of every pallet Arrival pattern varies by time of day Should wait for sufficient number of pallets of a product type before starting cooling process Use shade bay for staging 12 pallet forklift

Produce Cooler - Sample Model There are many excellent simulation software products. The use of a specific product on this project is not an endorsement for any one specific simulation software. Let’s RUN THE MODEL

Lessons Learned Tube capacity should be a multiple of 12 Extra receiving personnel needed during busy period to reduce in-bound trucks queuing Room available in Shade Bay Area to convert to other use Both Dry & Wet Boxes are sized appropriately Single move for AFC products has significant impact on Average Time to Complete Cooling Process