Optimización de la producción mediante el diseño de una línea de clasificación de alimento balanceado para camarón

Abstract

The Ecuadorian shrimp industry, a cornerstone of the national economy, faces a critical operational challenge in feed production: a bottleneck in the particle size classification stage. This technical project focuses on diagnosing and resolving this constraint, which limits production capacity to 300 kg/h, well below the minimum demand of 500 kg/h required to supply the market. The core problem lies in the inefficiency of the current classification system, which generates product heterogeneity, increases reprocessing, raises operating costs, and compromises the company's competitiveness. The proposed solution consists of a complete redesign of this line, incorporating a high-capacity Plan Sifter, automated feeding systems, surge hoppers with level sensors, and a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to synchronize the flows. This design not only aims to increase capacity but also to guarantee the particle size homogeneity required at each stage of shrimp development, a determining factor for digestibility and survival rate. The methodology integrates quantitative analysis, computational simulation, and a techno-economic evaluation to validate the proposal's feasibility. Implementing this solution will transform a critical issue into a competitive advantage, ensuring the plant's scalability, resource optimization, and operational sustainability, aligning with Industry 4.0 principles and continuous improvement.