Integration of Load Management into an Energy-oriented Production Control

In order to be more energy-cost-efficient, companies may choose time-variable tariffs with their energy provider or expand their energy self-supply depending on their capability for flexible energy consumption. Therefore, flexible energy consumption has to be reflected in the companies’ production planning and control. This paper presents a strategy for an energy-oriented production control, which treats electric energy as a limited production capacity where load profiles for manufacturing are predetermined. The focus of this strategy is the identification and integration of measures for load management into production control in order to cope with unexpected events and disruption on the shop floor which in turn have adverse effects on the overall energy consumption. This energy-oriented production control aims to synchronize the energy demand in manufacturing with a limited energy supply and thereby to minimize energy costs.