MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF VALUE CHAIN OPTIMIZATION FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY PROJECTS

Abstract

Nuclear safety projects are critical for ensuring the secure and sustainable operation of the global nuclear energy sector, yet they are frequently challenged by escalating costs, prolonged schedules, and complex supply chains. Traditional project management methods often fail to capture the interdependencies and high-stakes trade-offs inherent in these projects' multi-stage value chains. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a novel, integrated mathematical model for optimizing the value chain of nuclear safety projects—from design and procurement through construction and commissioning. We develop a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation that holistically integrates key decision variables, including supplier selection, logistics routing, inventory management, and activity scheduling. The model's primary objective is to minimize total lifecycle cost and project duration while treating safety, quality, and regulatory compliance as inviolable constraints. A case study based on a representative safety upgrade project is presented to validate the model. The results demonstrate the model's capability to generate optimized project plans, identify critical cost and schedule drivers, and perform robust sensitivity analysis on parameters such as resource availability and regulatory review timelines. The proposed framework provides project managers and decision-makers with a powerful, quantitative tool for strategic planning and resource allocation. By enabling a systems-level view of the project value chain, this work contributes to enhancing the economic efficiency and execution predictability of nuclear safety initiatives without compromising their fundamental safety imperative.