Artificial Intelligence
AI for Metals Manufacturing
AI isn’t one thing. It’s a shorthand for a dozen different technologies: machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and optimisation algorithms. Each solves a different class of problem.
For metals manufacturers, the most valuable applications are narrow and practical. AI that reads mill certificates in seconds and extracts every heat number, grade, and mechanical property without anyone typing a thing. AI that calculates optimal cut sequences for bar, rebar, and structural sections, cutting scrap by up to 50%. AI that monitors stock levels in real time and flags reorder points before you run short.
None of this requires a data science team or a rip-and-replace ERP project. The best metals AI sits on top of what you already have: your spreadsheets, your email inbox, your existing ERP. It adds intelligence where it counts. You pilot on one product family. You go live in a day. You scale when it works.
Posts here cover practical implementations for metals manufacturers: certificate automation, cutting optimisation, inventory intelligence, and what to expect when you bring AI into a shop that’s been running on Excel and tribal knowledge.
Start with the problem you want to solve. Let the maths do the rest.
Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard - what you need to know
- Will Harris
- Archive
- Oct 25, 2021
- Updated
The Emissions Impact Dashboard is a great way to track and reduce cloud carbon emissions. The tool has an accessible visual interface that gives users high quality data and key insights into their cloud carbon footprint. If you’re aiming for net zero this dashboard can be a step in the right direction.
Read More: Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard - what you need to knowWhy you should upskill your team with Azure AI fundamentals
- Will Harris
- Archive , Learning
- Oct 20, 2021
- Updated
As digital transformation and AI adoption become the norm in manufacturing it’s vital that management are all on the same page. A lack of understanding of AI and a fear of the unknown are some of the key barriers to successful implementation in most organisations. Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals could be your solution.
Read More: Why you should upskill your team with Azure AI fundamentalsInvesting in digital technology lowers future operating costs for manufacturers
- Steph Locke
- Archive , Blog
- Oct 19, 2021
- Updated
There are so many benefits to going digital with your business including cutting your future operating costs and becoming more sustainable. We’ve taken a look at the UKRI’s report on productivity opportunities and risks in a transformative, low-carbon and digital age which looks at this in more detail.
Read More: Investing in digital technology lowers future operating costs for manufacturersWhat is a citizen developer?
- Ruth Kearney
- Archive , Learning
- Oct 6, 2021
- Updated
Citizen developers are not developers by trade but still make useful tools and applications with no-code tools. The concept is relatively new and has gained momentum in the last few years. Citizen Development has the potential to be of great benefit to the manufacturing industry by empowering ordinary staff to improve the processes they work with every day. Their unique perspectives can be transformative in identifying key areas to work on and improve.
Read More: What is a citizen developer?What manufacturing SME's need to know about IIoT and cyber-security
- Steph Locke
- Archive
- Sep 30, 2021
- Updated
IIoT can have benefits for manufacturing businesses of all types and sizes. It can be particularly useful in providing transparency and tracking along the supply chain but that’s just the start. To stay safe, it is vital you develop strong cyber security practices around IIoT. Here we offer some best practices and how to approach them.
Read More: What manufacturing SME's need to know about IIoT and cyber-securityUK Government supports AI approaches to manufacturing sustainability
- Steph Locke
- Archive , Blog
- Sep 28, 2021
- Updated
The UK government released its AI strategy on 22nd September 2021. We’ve looked at the report and broken down how this will affect the manufacturing industry going forward. We outline some key areas such as skills shortages, addressing net-zero challenges, and new product development as well as the next steps manufacturers can take.
Read More: UK Government supports AI approaches to manufacturing sustainabilitySteph Locke at Impact Festival 2021
- Will Harris
- News
- Sep 22, 2021
- Updated
Take a look at what happened at last week’s Impact Festival, where Steph took part in the EIT Manufacturing panel on The Future of Sustainable Manufacturing.
Read More: Steph Locke at Impact Festival 2021Digitalising your business processes to be more sustainable
- Steph Locke
- Archive , Blog
- Sep 21, 2021
- Updated
Digitalising your business processes might help you run a more sustainable, environmentally friendly manufacturing operation. Simply digitising your records and reducing physical resource usage is an excellent place to begin. Taking it a step further and re-engineering the way you work to be smoother, more integrated, and less data entry dependent while digitalising can save you even more compute power (and therefore energy!).
Read More: Digitalising your business processes to be more sustainableImpact festival 2021
- Will Harris
- News
- Sep 15, 2021
- Updated
Impact festival is an event taking place in Frankfurt over 16 and 17 September. It aims to bring together thought-leaders and innovators working on sustainability to discuss and collaborate on potential problems. Our CEO, Steph Locke will be speaking there on the EIT manufacturing panel.
Read More: Impact festival 2021Cloud Migration: important for a green future
- Steph Locke
- Archive , Blog
- Sep 15, 2021
- Updated
Cloud providers like Microsoft are making their data centres greener and carbon neutral, whereas your in-house servers and associated resources are burning energy. As well as potentially lowering your compute costs, revitalising your IT infrastructure, reducing risk, the green advantages make a cloud move a must for any manufacturer with sights on a net zero goal.
Read More: Cloud Migration: important for a green futureCategories
Tags
- Artificial Intelligence
- Automation
- Cloud Technology
- Compliance
- Continuous Improvement
- Cutting Optimisation
- Data Strategy
- Digital Transformation
- Energy Management
- Glossary
- Inventory Management
- Inventory Management for Metals
- Manufacturing
- Metals
- Nightingale HQ and GoSmarter
- Production Planning
- Quality
- Research & Innovation
- Small & Medium Enterprises
- Steel Industry
- Supply Chain
- Sustainability
- Steel Tariffs
- Trade & International Steel
- Wales









