ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF CONTROL OF THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING CRUDE SUGAR

Abstract

Introduction:
In recent years, unfavorable trends have been observed in Cuban Sugar Mills due to operational difficulties and sources of external variability in the process.
Objective:
To evaluate the crude sugar production process state of control in a Cuban Sugar Mill and propose possible solutions to be implemented by the industry.
Materials and Methods:
Fifty-nine (59) operational parameters were monitored for 20 days and statistical tools such as control charts for means and ranges, Hotelling charts, process capability indices and hypothesis testing were used.
Results and Discussion:
The 79.72% of the analyzed parameters and all the process stages do not refer statistical control. From the analyzed parameters, the process is potentially sufficient to control the sugar pH and capable of achieve the imbibition water flow specifications, the clarified juice, the molasses purity and the insoluble. It not occurred for the rest of parameters. According to the hypothesis test, 28 parameters comply with the normed values.
Conclusions:
These elements demonstrate the insufficient state of control of the production process and the need for deeper revisions.