Japanese steel makers, whose productivity is an issue due to fierce competition with overseas players, have introduced new systems that utilize AI = artificial intelligence to maintain stable production at manufacturing sites. Digitization is accelerating.
Of these, Nippon Steel, the largest steel company, will introduce a system that can detect abnormalities in production equipment in advance using AI at a steel mill in Chiba Prefecture from January next year in collaboration with NEC, a major electronics manufacturer.
This system uses sensors installed at approximately 500 locations within the steelworks to measure the operating status of equipment in real time.
By letting AI learn the normal operating conditions based on information such as current, pressure, and control signals, troubles can be detected in advance from slight changes in the conditions.
Takeo Hoshino, General Manager of Nippon Steel's Digital Reform Promotion Department, said, "We would like to introduce it to some processes first and then expand it to other steelworks in the future."
Japanese steel makers are facing the challenge of improving productivity due to fierce price competition with foreigners such as China, and JFE Steel and Kobe Steel also use AI to manage production processes and prevent operational suspensions and defective products. The digitization of manufacturing sites is accelerating, such as the introduction of systems.