Brazil is the world´s greatest producer of sugarcane generating 3 million jobs within its supply chain. The continuous feeding of sugarcane mills during the harvest season strongly depends on the good management of harvest and operations of loading and transporting the sugarcane from farms to mills. A guaranteed delivery of sugarcane must be developed to avoid the risk of stopping the production of sugar and alcohol. This study focuses on the development and use of a computer simulation model to evaluate and select a suitable work shift system for agricultural equipment operators of a cane sugar mill in the State of São Paulo, Brazil based on three criteria: sugarcane delivery requirements, lack of sugarcane, and legal restrictions on daily working hours. Four scenarios were selected for evaluation. The scenario that presents a 4-hour shift system was considered the best option since it fulfilled most of the requirements under analysis. The discussion is focused on work shift planning, but similar studies can be applied in other sugar and alcohol mills and other sugar and alcohol processes of the sugarcane sector.
Simulation; Cutting, loading and transportation; Sugarcane
