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OCP Optimizes Its Supply Chain for Africa

Author

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  • El Mehdi Er Raqabi

    (Mathematics and Industrial Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada; and Group for Research in Decision Analysis, Montréal, Québec H3T 1N8, Canada; and H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332)

  • Ahmed Beljadid

    (Mathematics and Industrial Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada; and Group for Research in Decision Analysis, Montréal, Québec H3T 1N8, Canada)

  • Mohammed Ali Bennouna

    (OCP Group, Casablanca, Morocco)

  • Rania Bennouna

    (OCP Group, Casablanca, Morocco)

  • Latifa Boussaadi

    (OCP Group, Casablanca, Morocco)

  • Nizar El Hachemi

    (Africa Business School, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco; and Mohammadia School of Engineers, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10000, Morocco)

  • Issmail El Hallaoui

    (Mathematics and Industrial Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada; and Group for Research in Decision Analysis, Montréal, Québec H3T 1N8, Canada)

  • Michel Fender

    (Africa Business School, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

  • Mohamed Anouar Jamali

    (OCP Group, Casablanca, Morocco)

  • Nabil Si Hammou

    (OCP Group, Casablanca, Morocco)

  • François Soumis

    (Mathematics and Industrial Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada; and Group for Research in Decision Analysis, Montréal, Québec H3T 1N8, Canada)

Abstract

Operations research specialists at the OCP Group, the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and Polytechnique Montreal operationalized a system that optimizes the OCP downstream supply chain operations. The system simultaneously schedules production, inventory, and vessels, ensuring the highest demand fulfillment level. To operationalize the system, the team equipped it with various heuristic and exact operations research tools. These tools provide the user with satisfactory schedules. Furthermore, inspired by the practice, the team implemented a novel hybrid variant of Benders decomposition, which consists of fixing some complicating variables related to confirmed orders and freeing others related to unconfirmed orders in the Benders subproblem. The system has become central to the OCP planning process. Planners use the optimizer’s solutions and insights to improve plans in different OCP sites. Initially, the system was a bottleneck, curbing the use of other supply chain management tools. OCP management now credits the system operationalization with providing operational benefits, contributing to more than a $240 million increase in annual turnover.

Suggested Citation

  • El Mehdi Er Raqabi & Ahmed Beljadid & Mohammed Ali Bennouna & Rania Bennouna & Latifa Boussaadi & Nizar El Hachemi & Issmail El Hallaoui & Michel Fender & Mohamed Anouar Jamali & Nabil Si Hammou & Fra, 2025. "OCP Optimizes Its Supply Chain for Africa," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 55(6), pages 437-456, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:55:y:2025:i:6:p:437-456
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.2023.0073
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