Production Goals Research Articles

A Study of Mathematical Problems as Control Agents in the Industrial Sector

PD Utama Jaya Plasindo, a company specializing in plastic pellet processing, faces several production challenges, such as fluctuating demand, raw material shortages, machinery downtime, and labor management. To address these issues and improve production planning, the company uses MATLAB's linprog tool, which is designed for Linear Programming (LP) and aims to maximize profits. The company's profit is calculated using the formula: Profit = 37A + 46B + 38C + 46D. This calculation takes into account seven constraints related to raw materials, machinery usage, labor hours, and product demand. With this method, PD Utama Jaya Plasindo earns a daily profit of Rp. 837,600 from its plastic buckle products, totaling Rp. 16,752,000 over 20 working days in a month. These profit figures, based on clear objectives and constraints, help ensure that production goals are met and facilitate the monitoring and optimization of production capacity. By leveraging MATLAB's linprog, the company can better manage demand fluctuations and optimize the use of raw materials, machinery, and labor.

Comparison of Oxytetracycline and Sulfamethazine Effects Over Root Elongation in Selected Wild and Crop Plants Commonly Present in the Mediterranean Cropland and Pasture Scenarios.

Fertilization with animal manure and sewage sludge, and the use of sewage water for irrigation, can lead to high antimicrobial concentrations in agricultural soils. Once in soil, antimicrobials can exert direct and indirect toxic effects on plants by misbalancing plant-microbe symbiotic relationships. We performed germination tests to determine the optimum germination conditions of 24 plant species (10 crop and 14 wild species). Subsequently, we analyzed the differences in oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine phytotoxicity in 19 plant species for which optimum germination conditions could be established. The root elongation of the majority of wild species was inhibited in the presence of oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine, whereas crops were mainly affected by oxytetracycline. There were no differences in sensitivity to oxytetracycline between crop and wild plant species, whereas wild plants were significantly more susceptible to sulfamethazine than crop species. Thus, to cover both productivity and biodiversity protection goals, we recommend pharmaceuticals' predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values based on crop and wild plant species phytotoxicity data.

Analysis of Volume Calculations for Clay Mining Excavation Plans Using The Surface to Surface Method

Abstract Calculating the volume of excavation is generally a large and complex problem for a project in an industry. This is because the accuracy of the volume calculation affects the project budget for the project provider. Calculating the excavation volume is important aspect of mine planning since it serves as a guide for hitting production goals in terms of both profit and technical success. The method commonly used in calculating excavation volume is surface to surface. To overcome this problem, a method or technique is needed to calculate the excavation volume that can provide accurate calculation results. the surface-to-surface approach will be used to optimize volume calculations. Additionally, the accuracy of excavation volume calculations based on ASTM (American Society for Testing and Material) tolerances. Analysis is carried out by calculating the smallest percentage value. In this way, excavation volume results will be obtained that are close to the reference value based on ASTM tolerances. The aim of this research is to determine the optimal results of surface-to-surface method volume calculations from the most accurate contour intervals. The volume calculation results that are closest to the reference of 999,922.91 tonnes have a percentage value of 0.01% with a volume difference to the forecast study of 77.09 tonnes. To obtain accurate volume calculations, a contour interval of 1 meter is better than several other contour intervals. This research can become new alternative in volume calculations to support SDGs activities, especially in the resource use efficiency to achieve a sustainable industrialisation.

Optimal Design of Horizontal Well Cluster Spacing Based on Extended Finite Element and Numerical Simulation

As a crucial component of volumetric fracturing in unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, the design and optimization of cluster spacing significantly impact the morphology and production of fractures. Therefore, this paper establishes a multi-fracture propagation geological model based on the extended finite element method to study the scale and morphology of fracture propagation. Simultaneously, a gas reservoir model is established using CMG software, guided by production goals, and incorporating rock mechanics and physical parameters from region M to optimize cluster spacing design. The results indicate that smaller cluster spacing results in greater stress shadow effects, hindering the propagation of central fractures, and increasing the overlap of pressure drop zones, leading to possible repeated modifications during construction. Conversely, larger cluster spacing reduces stress shadow effects but may leave some areas between clusters unmodified, affecting production. Thus, through combined simulation optimization using both methods, a cluster spacing of 10-15 meters is recommended for region M, which has shown good on-site application results, significantly reducing the rate of repeated modifications.

Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (Citrus reticulata) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators

Improving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for Citrus reticulata production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) and nutrients (potassium and zinc) on fruit drop and juice volume in Citrus reticulata L. Field trials were conducted at three locations in Punjab, Pakistan (Layyah, Faisalabad, and Sargodha) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications per treatment. Nutrients (K and Zn at 100 mg/L each) and growth regulators (SA at 100 mg/L and IAA at 5 mg/L) were applied individually or in combination at three growth stages. Statistical analyses, including PCA, ANOVA, and GGE biplot, were used to identify the most effective treatments for improving fruit juice quality and reducing fruit drop. The combined foliar application of SA + K + Zn was the most effective across all parameters, except fruit drop, juice citric acid contents, and juice pH, which were negatively affected. The highest juice potassium content was observed with K application. The PCA and GGE biplot analysis indicated that the Sargodha orchard performed best, with the SA + K treatment being the most effective there, while SA + K + Zn showed the best results at Layyah and Faisalabad for reducing fruit drop, enhancing juice volume, and improving fruit quality. However, individual fruit, juice, and juice nutrient contents traits analyses revealed that the most significant improvements in fruit and juice quality were observed at the Sargodha site instead of Layyah and Faisalabad. The treatment SA + K + Zn proved to be the most stable and consistent in enhancing citrus fruit and juice quality across all three selected locations. The findings suggest that adopting the SA + K + Zn treatment could be a practical approach for citrus farmers aiming to enhance crop yield and fruit quality, thereby supporting agricultural productivity and export potential in Pakistan.

Improving Workers' Performance in Small Firms: A Randomized Experiment on Goal Setting in Ghana

Abstract We report the results of a cost-effective intervention to improve workers' performance in small cassava processing firms in Ghana. We train workers to track their daily output and then randomly assign a sub-sample to set daily production goals. Achieving or missing a goal does not carry monetary consequences. Goal setting increases workers' output by 16%, their productivity by 8% and the average product of labor in firms by 13%. Goal setting is particularly effective for piece-rate workers, increasing their output by 32% and productivity by 24%. While not conclusive, evidence suggests that goals serve as a self-regulation device.

Possibilities of Implementing Sustainable Production of Chicken Meat by Applying an Innovative Device for Poultry Electric Stunning

The aim of this research was to determine the feasibility of sustainable chicken meat production, using good- and low-quality raw material and two different devices (own construction—OC, and a Dutch company’s—DC) for electrical stunning at the slaughter stage. A statistical analysis was also performed to indicate which of the analyzed courses of action is the most important for the company to maintain a balance between the quality of produced meat (pH, number of hemorrhages—small and large, defectiveness, and color on the external and internal surfaces of the fillet and tenderloin), and environmental and economic aspects. It has been shown that the use of device OC for stunning poultry compared to the device DC has a positive effect on: (1) reducing the number of hemorrhages on the outer surface and inside of the fillet—mainly large hemorrhages, (2) increasing by ~50% the share of production of fillets without hemorrhages, and (3) brightening and unifying the color of the external and internal surfaces of the fillet and tenderloin. Taking the above into account, it was concluded that the goals of sustainable chicken meat production depend mainly on the type of stunning device used; therefore, it is recommended to replace the Dutch device (DC) currently used in the plant with an innovative device (OC). It is also recommended to use financial tools when concluding contracts with poultry breeders so that meat producers can implement the goals of the sustainable management policy already at the raw material stage.

Trade-offs and synergies of food-water-land benefits for crop rotation optimization in Northeast China

In agricultural management, selecting the appropriate crop rotation type (CRT) is crucial for sustainable development. Despite the focus on food production, water conservation, and farmland protection, systematic and quantitative analyses of the interrelationships and benefits among food, water, and land under different CRT scenarios are lacking. This gap hinders the achievement of goals and limits effective support for agricultural planning. This study utilized yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and farmland degradation and restoration (FDR) conditions to measure benefits related to food production, water resource conservation, and farmland protection. Taking the Northeast China (NEC) region as an example, nine major CRT zones were identified, and their integrated "food-water-land" benefits were quantitatively assessed. The findings revealed that there are significant differences in the annual average yield and WUE under different CRTs. Specifically, the average yield of the Maize-continuous-cropping or Rice-continuous-cropping zone is much higher than that of the Soybean-continuous-cropping zone; the WUE was highest in the Soybean-continuous-cropping zone, with a multi-year mean of 1.105 kg·C·m−3. The NPP-WUE framework for FDR detection indicated that crop rotation is more conducive to farmland protection than continuous-cropping, as a higher proportion of restoration area was detected. By assessing the trade-offs between CRT and "food-water-land" benefits, the results show that when prioritizing a single goal of food production, water resource conservation, or farmland protection, the best CRT for farmland is Maize-continuous-cropping, Soybean-continuous-cropping, or Soybean-Other crops rotation, respectively. When multiple goals are considered, Maize-continuous-cropping or Soybean-continuous-cropping is the most ideal. Therefore, maintaining a large area of maize while expanding soybean planting in the NEC is reasonable. In the NEC, we recommend adjusting Maize-Soybean and Rice-continuous-cropping; the former prioritize shifting to Maize or Soybean continuous-cropping, and the latter prioritizes shifting to Maize-Rice rotation. This study offers valuable insights into the trade-offs and optimization of CRTs, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural development.

Energy-saving research on the separation of isopropyl acetate and isopropanol azeotrope using pressure-swing distillation based on phase equilibrium

In high purity thioglycolic acid production, isopropyl acetate is used to extract the acid from intermediates, but it hydrolyzes and forms azeotrope with isopropanol under acidic conditions. To achieve environmental conservation, resource utilization, and clean production goals, the design of economically profitable separation processes becomes imperative. Pressure-swing distillation (PSD) with process intensification is employed after derived binary interaction parameters from VLE data at lower pressures, and sequential iteration simplified optimization is performed. Further to overcome the high energy consumption encountered in traditional PSD, heat integration and steam recompression technology were incorporated, resulting in four energy-saving PSD designs. And temperature-enthalpy diagrams were utilized to assess their energy consumption. Based on evaluation indicators of total annual cost (TAC), total energy consumption (TEC), and CO2 emissions, all improved PSD processes significantly reduced TAC and CO2 emissions. Among them, heat pump (HP-PSD) demonstrating the highest economy and eco-friendliness with a 30.1 % and 82.4 % reduction in TAC and CO2 emissions. Heat pump assisted heat integration (HP-HIPSD) also attracted significant attention of reducing TAC by 16.3 %. A longer payback period is expected to yield higher cost savings from all enhanced designs. This study provides invaluable insights for the separation and sustainable development of alcohol ester azeotropes.

Circular product development strategies for sustainable production and consumption based on waste valorization

PurposeThis study aims to propose guidelines for developing circular products based on waste recovery that are aligned with sustainable production and consumption.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review and case studies on circular product development were conducted. In total, 15 companies with products based on waste recovery and aligned with sustainable production and consumption goal were studied.FindingsThe results show the decisions and strategies applied at each stage of the new product development process, including the design for recycling, the use of waste as a raw material for products and the concern for reducing pollution and recovering end-of-life products.Practical implicationsThe cases studied meet the goals of efficient use of natural resources and waste reduction by preventing, reducing, recycling and reusing waste. For practitioners, a set of guidelines is proposed to help companies develop circular products based on waste recovery.Originality/valuePrevious studies have not evaluated the new product development process and circularity from the institutional theory and waste valorization perspectives.

The Importance of Addressing Evolutionary Mismatches in the Production Management of Aquaculture Species

ABSTRACTTo achieve production goals, aquaculture often modifies the environments of farmed species, creating conditions that differ significantly from their natural habitats. These alterations can result in evolutionary mismatches, where traits that evolved to optimise survival and reproduction in the wild become maladaptive in farming settings. This can lead to a conflict between traits desired for farming and those favoured by natural selection. In this opinion piece, we examine cases where such evolutionary mismatches arise, their impact on production, and strategies to mitigate these effects. We provide examples of species and farming practices that have been optimised through selective breeding and evolutionary studies and highlight practical solutions that can be applied to the many aquaculture species for which farming practices remain suboptimal. Additionally, we suggest directions for future research to deepen our understanding of evolutionary mismatches in aquaculture.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ПРОДУКТОВОЇ СТРАТЕГІЇ ЯК ГОЛОВНОГО ЕЛЕМЕНТА МАРКЕТИНГОВОЇ ТОВАРНОЇ ПОЛІТИКИ

Introduction. Today, when the target market changes, competition increases or the marketing environment changes, the nature and pace of product development must also change. Different markets and competitive situations require different product development cycle lengths, degrees of standardization and support services. All of the above requires a rethinking of the role of marketing product policy, in particular marketing product strategy. The purpose of the article.To investigate the essence of the product strategy, the peculiarities of product marketing, to analyze the foreign experience of forming a product strategy and to build a model of the company's product marketing strategy. Metods. The use of the method of analysis and synthesis of foreign experience in the formation of product marketing made it possible to adapt the model of the company's product marketing strategy to domestic realities. Results A product strategy sets the direction for the business, unites everyone around common goals and reduces waste. Product marketers spend a lot of time solving problems – many of which could be avoided if product goals, priorities and strategies were clear and aligned. In order to better understand who should do what, a model of the company's marketing product strategy is proposed, which includes three components: a strategy for determining product activity (initial activity); product manufacturing strategy (input activity) and sales strategy (output activity). Conclusiоns The structure of product marketing and its functioning depends on the size of the enterprise, the markets in which it operates, as well as the skills and preferences of the people involved. However, in order to achieve success, it is necessary to realize three aspects: decide who and what should be done; understand who is ultimately responsible for the success of each product; a detailed understanding of existing and potential customers and markets. Knowing this helps ensure products are well positioned, customers want to buy them, and sales teams have what they need to sell.

Effect of Solar Irradiation Inter-Annual Variability on PV and CSP Power Plants Production Capacity: Portugal Case-Study

The sizing of solar energy power plants is usually made using typical meteorological years, which disregards the inter-annual variability of the solar resource. Nevertheless, such variability is crucial for the bankability of these projects because it impacts on the production goals set at the time of the supply agreement. For that reason, this study aims to fill the gap in the existing literature and analyse the impact that solar resource variability has on solar power plant production as applied to the case of Portugal (southern Europe). To that end, 17 years (2003–2019) of meteorological data from a network of 90 ground stations hosted by the Portuguese Meteorological Service is examined. Annual capacity factor regarding photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) plants is computed using the System Advisor Model, used here for solar power performance simulations. In terms of results, while a long-term trend for increase in annual irradiation is found for Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) and Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), 0.4148 and 3.2711 kWh/m2/year, respectively, consistent with a solar brightening period, no corresponding trend is found for PV or CSP production. The latter is attributed to the long-term upward trend of 0.0231 °C/year in annual average ambient temperature, which contributes to PV and CSP efficiency reduction. Spatial analysis of inter-annual relative variability for GHI and DNI shows a reduction in variability from the north to the south of the country, as well as for the respective power plant productions. Particularly, for PV, inter-annual variability ranges between 2.45% and 12.07% in Faro and Santarém, respectively, while higher values are generally found for CSP, 3.71% in Faro and 16.04% in São Pedro de Moel. These results are a contribution to future instalments of PV and CSP systems in southern Portugal, a region with very favourable conditions for solar energy harvesting, due to the combination of high production capacity and low inter-annual variability.

How do semiconductors, artificial intelligence, geopolitical risk, and their moderating effects shape renewable energy production in leading semiconductor manufacturing countries?

Semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and geopolitics may influence the future of environmentally friendly energy. This research aims to offer a novel perspective within this domain by assessing the interconnections between semiconductors, AI, geopolitical risk, and renewable energy production. The study analyzed panel data and cross-country statistics from 1999 to 2019 for 13 leading semiconductor manufacturing countries. According to the findings of the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag-Pooled Mean Group (ARDL-PMG), the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), and the Panel-Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) methods semiconductors and AI have a significant long-term impact on accelerating renewable energy production. However, renewable energy production experiences substantial disruptions resulting from geopolitical risk. Apart from this, the combined effect of geopolitical risk and semiconductors decreases the strength of the advantageous interaction between semiconductors and renewable energy as compared to the direct influence of semiconductors. Likewise, the moderating effect of geopolitical risk and AI decreases the beneficial intensity between AI and renewable energy production as compared to the direct impact of AI. Finally, these statistical insights serve as an essential foundation and benchmark for policymakers seeking to align their strategies with renewable energy production goals by addressing the role of semiconductors, AI, geopolitical risks, and their combined impact.

From Flourish to Nourish: Cultivating Soil Health for Sustainable Floriculture.

Despite its rapid growth and economic success, the sustainability of the floriculture industry as it is presently conducted is debatable, due to the huge environmental impacts it initiates and incurs. Achieving sustainability requires joint efforts from all stakeholders, a fact that is often neglected in discussions that frequently focus upon economically driven management concerns. This review attempts to raise awareness and collective responsibility among the key practitioners in floriculture by discussing its sustainability in the context of soil health, as soil is the foundation of agriculture systems. Major challenges posed to soil health arise from soil acidification and salinization stimulated by the abusive use of fertilizers. The poisoning of soil biota by pesticide residues and plastic debris due to the excessive application of pesticides and disposal of plastics is another significant issue and concern. The consequence of continuous cropping obstacles are further elucidated by the concept of plant-soil feedback. Based on these challenges, we propose the adoption and implementation of several sustainable practices including breeding stress-resistant and nutrient-efficient cultivars, making sustainable soil management a goal of floriculture production, and the recycling of plastics to overcome and mitigate the decline in soil health. The problems created by flower waste materials are highlighted and efficient treatment by biochar synthesis is suggested. We acknowledge the complexity of developing and implementing the proposed practices in floriculture as there is limited collaboration among the research and operational communities, and the policymakers. Additional research examining the impacts the floriculture industry has upon soils is needed to develop more sustainable production practices that can help resolve the current threats and to bridge the understanding gap between researchers and stakeholders in floriculture.

Speech sound errors in adolescents with congenital hearing loss

Children with hearing impairment (HI) often have vowel and consonant errors. Speech-language pathologists need this information to correct articulation errors. Despite the prevalence of research on speech sound error patterns in hearing aid users, there is a lack of literature in the adolescent group. The present study aimed to investigate the common speech sound errors in HI adolescents from the Malayalam-speaking community who have severe to profound hearing loss and are digital hearing aid users. A total of 15 monolingual Malayalam-speaking children between the ages of 9 and 16 years were recruited who had been diagnosed with speech sound disorders secondary to congenital hearing impairment. The minimum language age for inclusion in the study was over three years. Articulatory error analysis was performed for all consonants and vowels of the Malayalam language, and frequently produced vowel and consonant errors were included in the SODA and PMV analyses. The consonants frequently produced speech sound errors and no vowel errors were found. The most commonly produced consonant errors were fricatives, trills, laterals, velars, and alveolars. Substitution and omission errors were the most common type of error. Place and manner errors were more common than other types of errors. The results of this study may help parents and rehabilitation professionals to understand the common errors that persist even after intensive intervention. It may also be a useful guide for AAC therapists and speech-language pathologists in setting appropriate speech production goals for adolescents with HI.

The LTAR Grazing Land Common Experiment at Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed.

The Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network common experiment addresses the aspirational practice of brush management (BM) to reverse the prevailing condition of woody plant encroachment (WPE) and increase perennial native grass production. Across the western United States, the decision to implement BM includes consideration of management objectives, cost, and the expected impact on a diverse suite of ecosystem services. Maintaining or restoring grass cover will help meet the LTAR sustainable production, economic, and social goals, and averting degradation will meet environmental goals. This common experiment, focused on hydrologic and erosion impacts of BM, aims to inform land management decisions on three major plant communities in the Southwestern United States: creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), mesquite (Prosopis velutina), and pinyon-juniper (PJ, Pinus and Juniperus spp.). On the WGEW, applying tebuthiuron pellets to creosote bush increased grass cover and reduced runoff and erosion. The 2016BM experiment on the Santa Rita Experimental Range applied a commonly used liquid herbicide cocktail but achieved only 7% mortality on mesquite, probably because of the timing of the aerial application. Experiments manipulating rainfall amount and intensity on plots receiving fire, chemical, or mechanical BM treatments on PJ communities aim to improve process representation in simulation models. The deliverables of these BM experiments will be to (i) improve the performance of runoff and erosion models, (ii) enhance our ability to identify areas most at risk from reduced hydrologic function and soil erosion after shrub proliferation, and (iii) better predict how landscapes will respond to BM interventions. Ranchers, land management agencies, and watershed conservation organizations will benefit from training and availability of improved tools to focus treatments on areas where greatest net benefits might be realized.

Impact of Fertilization on Productivity and Nutritional Quality of Napier Varieties in Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Aims: This study investigates the effects of fertilizer application on the growth performance, proximate composition, and chlorophyll content of three Napier grass varieties (King, Pakchong, and Juncao) in Southern Mindanao, Philippines. Study Design: Utilizing a Randomized Complete Block Design with a 3x2 factorial arrangement. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was performed at the University of Southern Mindanao Animal Production Center facilities from January to March 2023. Methodology: The three Napier grass varieties (King, Pakchong, and Juncao) was the first factor, and fertilizer application (with or without) were the second factor. Four blocks were prepared, each containing six plots, resulting in 24 plots. The fertilized plots received two applications of 150kg N/ha and 75kg N/ha of the recommended NPK fertilizer, respectively, while non-fertilized plots did not receive any fertilizer. Results: Results showed that fertilizer application significantly improved herbage yield, with fertilized plants yielding 20.25 tons per hectare compared to 15.14 tons in non-fertilized plants. Pakchong exhibited the highest yield and crude fiber content, while Juncao grass showed higher crude protein content without fertilizer. Fertilization also increased ether extract content, with Pakchong displaying the greatest response. However, nitrogen-free extract (NFE) was higher in non-fertilized plants across all varieties, indicating a complex interaction between nutrient availability and carbohydrate allocation. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of targeted fertilizer management to optimize both growth and nutritional quality, depending on specific production goals. The differential responses among Napier varieties suggest the potential for variety-specific fertilization strategies, which can enhance forage quality and sustainability in livestock farming. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts of continuous fertilization and the underlying genetic mechanisms driving varietal differences.

Simplified efficiency calibration methods for scintillation detectors used in nuclear remediation

Our study introduces innovative methods to address waste reduction and enhance resource efficiency in nuclear cleanup processes. We focus on sustainable nuclear technology, aligning with goals for cleaner production and environmental protection. We developed two novel methods, termed “oversimplified” and “simplified,” for easily determining the photopeak efficiency of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors. These methods, along with a “general” solution method, were validated with calibrated radioactive sources such as 241Am, 57Co, 133Ba, 137Cs, and 60Co, and were used to commission a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector system at Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) for nuclear remediation. The system demonstrated high accuracy, making it suitable for screening unstable isotopes at contaminated sites. This screening tool significantly reduces the number of soil samples requiring detailed characterization, thereby lowering operational costs. The NaI(Tl) detector system was calibrated for near-contact geometry, which is commonly used at CRLs. Detection limits were established for this configuration. By improving the efficiency calibration of scintillation detectors, our study advances sustainable nuclear remediation practices, promoting environmental sustainability and cleaner production processes.

The optimisation of the STEP electron cyclotron current drive concept

Abstract A fusion reactor based on the spherical tokamak is very likely to be completely non-inductive for the majority of the plasma ramp-up and steady-state phases, due to the limitations imposed on the central coil assemblies by the compact design. Efficiency gains from solenoid-driven current cannot be relied upon. It is also critical that an electricity-producing plant maximises the wall-plug efficiency of its heating and current drive (HCD) system, this being one of the largest consumers of recirculating power. It is therefore essential that the HCD system is well-optimised for current drive efficiency in order to meet the goal of net electricity production. The UK’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) reactor design program has recently taken the decision to use exclusively microwave-based heating and current drive actuators for its reactor concepts. We present the optimisation of an electron cyclotron current drive scheme for a spherical tokamak reactor, based around the STEP concept, arriving at a solution which overcomes the limitations imposed by the spherical tokamak geometry in terms of microwave access and high trapped particle fraction. The solution uses high-field side absorption and a mix of fundamental and 2nd harmonic O mode, with overall power requirements reducing with increasing number of frequencies used. An additional fundamental frequency is also added to further boost the efficiency during non-inductive plasma ramp.