Physical protection, accountability, and process modelling

Process modelling is currently being used in several safeguards related projects for systematically analyzing problems and evaluating solutions. Although this paper primarily discusses the applications of process modelling to automation of nuclear fuel manufacturing processes, other projects are identified. Properly designed automated processing, including handling and storage, should contribute to improved physical protection of special nuclear material and vital equipment as well as to improved special nuclear material control and accountability. A systematic means of determining the ''best'' overall design for safeguards and evaluating that design must be applied before plant designs are literally set in concrete, necessitating ex post facto design or retrofitting