Areas of research

Research into a sustainable chemical industry focuses on shaping industrial value creation within the chemical sector in line with environmental and social criteria. A key aspect of this is the transition towards resource-efficient and climate-neutral value chains. The focus is on the holistic assessment of alternative energy sources and resources, as well as the evaluation of the consequences of policy actions. The research yields transformation strategies for decision-makers.

Methodologically, approaches to holistic sustainability assessment – in particular Life Cycle Assessment – are utilised and appropriately combined with (multi-criteria) optimisation methods.

Publication (example):
Graupner, Y.; Weckenborg, C.; Spengler, T. S. (2024): Effects of European emissions trading on the transformation of primary steelmaking: Assessment of economic and climate impacts in a case study from Germany, in: Journal of Industrial Ecology, 28 (6), pp. 1524–1540.

Research into project management addresses, on the one hand, the particular complexity of research and development projects relating to product development in the chemical industry. On the other hand, it addresses project management for the planning of process plants . In both applications, it is of central importance to incorporate uncertainties into project management, so that robust timetables for the implementation of the projects are produced. The research has resulted in decision-support tools designed to assist those in industrial leadership roles in the management of plant and research and development projects.

Methodologically, the focus is on mathematical optimisation methods, in particular heuristic optimisation.

Publication (example):
Weckenborg, C.; Kieckhäfer, K.; Spengler, T. S.; Bernstein, P. (2020): The Volkswagen Pre-Production Centre Applies Operations Research to Optimise Capacity Scheduling, in: INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, 50 (2), pp. 119–136.

Research into process and plant management focuses on the design, monitoring and control of industrial value-added processes in the chemical industry. Of central importance here are techno-economic issues relating to the sizing and process control of plants, as well as their quality management. The research yields strategies for the design of both locally centred and globally distributed process plant networks, as well as appropriate strategies for their monitoring and control.

Methodologically, the focus is on the problem-specific modelling of intra- and inter-plant material and energy flows and their incorporation into models of mathematical optimisation.

Publication (example):
Bätge, T.; Heinke, S.; Weckenborg, C.; Karig, M.; Köhler, J.; Spengler, T. S.: Configuration Planning for Gaseous Hydrogen Refuelling Stations: A Techno-Economic Assessment, Journal of Business Economics, published online.

Research into logistics management focuses on the strategic, tactical and operational design and control of internal and external material and information flows within the chemical industry. Of central importance here is the efficient coordination of material supply to plant complexes and their maintenance. Issues relating to appropriate procurement and distribution strategies are also addressed. The research yields strategies for the design and control of procurement, production and distribution logistics for companies in the chemical industry.

Methodologically, the focus is on simulation techniques and mathematical optimisation.

Publication (example):
Weckenborg, C.; Oetjegerdes, P.; Spengler, T. S. (2025): Energy-oriented crane scheduling in a steel coil storage facility, in: Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, 37, pp. 97–124.