Industry 4.0

Globally steel industry is leading the way in ‘smart production’, and seizing the opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 means almost-autonomous steelworks. People, products and production facilities are fully connected through the Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors collect vast amounts of data, and that information is then interpreted by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This optimizes the production line and creates synergies across the facility.

Digital twinning employs high performance computing (HPC) and data-analytics to improve the sustainability of the steelmaking and casting processes, by reducing the overall material and energy intensities of the steelmaking value chain. A two-pronged approach of creating digital twins - featuring both, a first-principles (computational fluid dynamics/CFD, thermo-mechanics, etc.) and a data-driven paradigm (using machine learning/artificial intelligence/AI for predictive analytics) - is pursued to realize simulation-driven process development, to ultimately enable process-driven product development, as part of the current Industry 4.0 revolution.

Leveraging the power of AI for an industry that is characterized by assets-intensiveness and high equipment costs is usually met with speculation owing to a slower ROI (when compared with other discrete manufacturing units). However, AI and Industrial IoT can realize benefits from the smallest value to broader business outcomes. Quadratyx offers a spectrum of solutions that range from simple-yet-intensive analytics with existing data collection mechanisms to complex, holistic plant management solutions.

Steel manufacturing enterprises, within India, are at various levels of maturity. Some enterprises are already employing AI for efficient production and minimized losses. Others are exploring opportunities to enhance business intelligence using AI and analytics.