By proceeding you agree to Expand My Business’s privacy policy, and terms and conditions

Close
Great to have you with us!

Thank you for sharing your details, you will get a call from our consultant within 24 hours.

Until then, take a look at some of our work.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Steel Perfection: How AI Rewrote the Rules of Quality Control

Through innovative AI-powered computer vision and advanced analytics, Expand My Business revolutionized the client's steel production processes. We tackled critical defects, enhanced precision, and boosted efficiency, resulting in remarkable cost savings and revenue growth.

4.8%
Reduction in Rejected Shipments
2.93%
Decrease in Rolling Process Failures
24%
Revenue Increase
Steel manufacturing
Industry
Computer vision for streamlining operational workflows.
Service Provided
10,000+ employees
Company Size

Business Challenges

The company faced two major production challenges:

  1. Defects from Foreign Objects: Microscopic foreign objects falling onto steel strips during production led to dents and cracks. These defects were often not detected until final inspection, resulting in high waste rates and customer dissatisfaction.
  2. Precision Issues in Rolling: The final rolling process had precision problems, with gaps between layers in steel coils exceeding 3cm. This issue resulted in rejections from a major automotive client, threatening a multi-billion-dollar annual contract and risking significant revenue.

These issues led to substantial financial losses, with rejected shipments costing millions and total annual losses reaching around $150 million. The persistent problems also damaged the company's reputation and market position.

Our Solution

To address these challenges, Expand My Business suggested the implementation of a comprehensive AI-powered quality control system, featuring:

1

Advanced Visual Inspection

High-resolution and precision cameras were installed along the production line and at the rolling station, capturing detailed visual data and measuring coil gaps with sub-millimeter accuracy to detect and address defects and precision issues.

2

Real-Time AI Analysis

Cutting-edge machine learning algorithms processed camera feeds in real-time, identifying and flagging potential problems before they could escalate, ensuring early detection and resolution.

3

Immediate Notifications

A real-time alert system was implemented to immediately notify operators of detected issues, enabling prompt intervention and significantly reducing waste.

4

Comprehensive Data Analytics

A robust data analytics platform was established to analyze production data, uncover trends, and recommend process improvements, driving enhanced efficiency and quality in manufacturing.

Impact

The implementation of these solutions yielded significant improvements:

4.8%

Reduction in Rejected Shipments

The rate of rejected shipments decreased from 5% to 0.2%, resulting in annual savings.

2.93%

Decrease in Rolling Process Failures

The failure rate in the rolling process dropped from 3% to 0.07%, saving a good amount annually.

24%

Revenue Increase

Company revenues grew by 24% to approximately by the end of the second year.

Conclusion

The implementation of AI-powered computer vision and advanced analytics transformed the company’s production processes, resolving critical quality and precision issues. This not only resulted in substantial cost savings and efficiency gains but also reinforced the company's competitive position in the global market. The success of this technology paves the way for future innovations and applications across various industries.