However the software has limits when used in the chemical industry, Biegler says. They're not necessarily looking at how you can change that process to make it fit in better. CAPD, with its inside knowledge of the chemical process, hopes to fill the gap and thus pave the way to deeply integrated supply-chain optimization. Meanwhile, CAPD's work in traditional areas of process improvement is far from over. The U.S. industry is under price pressures due to global competition and volatile costs for energy and raw materials.
Environmental concerns continue.
Funding comes from NSF, the U.S. Department of Energy and corporate sponsors such as Bayer, Dupont and Exxon Mobil. CAPD faculty have written a popular textbook, Systematic Methods of Chemical Process Design, and offer short courses for industry practitioners.