Key performance indicators and set-points in sugar beet processing

Each sugar factory needs appropriate guidance to produce the desired white sugar product and co-products in their installed process equipment from the received sugar beet in a cost-effective way. Based on the generally known principles of sugar technology and supported by the extensive experience in beet sugar processing, this paper provides an overview of important key performance indicators (KPIs) which a factory could use as targets to optimize their beet processing. The recommended technological process set-points, which are required to fulfil the defined KPI targets, will be covered too. The theoretical background of sugar process technology is at the basis for the determination of the recommended process control parameters and will be used to explain the preferred choices of KPIs and process set-points.