applied sciences Article A Mathematical Model for Reduction of Trim Loss in Cutting Reels at a Make-to-Order Paper Mill Razaullah Khan 1,*, Catalin Iulian Pruncu 2,* , Abdul Salam Khan 3,4 , Khawar Naeem 5, Muhammad Abas 5 , Qazi Salman Khalid 5 and Asnaf Aziz 1 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, University of Technology, Nowshera 24100, Pakistan;
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[email protected] 4 NUST Business School, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad H-12 44000, Pakistan 5 Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan;
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[email protected] (C.I.P.); Tel.: +92-300-9347317 (R.K.) Received: 25 June 2020; Accepted: 28 July 2020; Published: 30 July 2020 Abstract: One of the main issues in a paper mill is the minimization of trim loss when cutting master reels and stocked reels into reels of smaller required widths. The losses produced in trimming at a paper mill are reprocessed by using different chemicals which contributes to significant discharge of effluent to surface water and causes environmental damage. This paper presents a real-world industrial problem of production planning and cutting optimization of reels at a paper mill and differs from other cutting stock problems by considering production and cutting of master reels of flexible widths and cutting already stocked over-produced and useable leftover reels of smaller widths.