Industry 4.0 - Smart Factory at ArcelorMittal
At the Bremen plant of the world's largest steel producer ArcelorMittal, the networking of IT systems and production facilities, the self-organization of the systems and the integration of an advanced dispatching system recently increase the efficiency and flexibility of production.
The modern architecture of the resulting IT landscape ensures sustainability of the investment. OHB Digital Services provides support with advice on agile software development as well as development and integration.
Improvement of production scheduling with SASKIA
An essential step is the introduction of the SASKIA production disposition system. For a very long time, manually planned campaigns were ruling the day. In the future, the disposition of the production systems will be largely automated. For that, algorithms are used which can utilize the systems even more efficiently. This is primarily achieved by combining the physical properties of the materials with production costs and system restrictions. The results are greater flexibility and efficiency in production. Another advantage of the solution is that it creates a common view for dispatchers as well as for the control center in production. The transparency created in this way enables us to make the right decisions together at any time. A high degree of scalability makes it possible to continuously improve the system and expand it modularly after successful use.
AMBus integration platform
The integration of production planning, material database, disposition system, production facilities and other systems is carried out using an integration platform developed by ArcelorMittal Bremen, the AMBus (ArcelorMittal Bremen Bus). Due to the loose coupling of the systems via the AMBus, changes and extensions can be easily implemented. This excellent expandability has been demonstrated several times through the step-by-step integration of an increasing number of IT systems and production facilities such as the packaging system for hot-rolled black coils.
Packaging line for hot-rolled black coils
In order to be able to produce more flexibly in the overall network of all systems, processes which are separate must be consolidated. Currently this is viewable in the consolidation of the packaging of hot-rolled black coils in a specially developed new system. In the future, these warm coils will be strapped with thicker packaging tape as part of the HRC logistics project. This makes the entire packaging process more safe and also reduces the previously high packaging costs of the coils.
Crane automation
The automation of warehouse management also plays a major role in Bremen. In particular, crane movements will be increasingly automated in the future. The standardization of processes across plant areas allows ArcelorMittal Bremen to use specially developed software, which first replaces the existing systems and then provides a smarter use of automation tools.
