Siemens to Supply Manufacturing System, Planning Solution to ArcelorMittal Galati
02/09/2011 - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies concluded a contract with ArcelorMittal to install an integrated Manufacturing Execution System, including production planning and scheduling software, in its Galați plant in Romania.
Siemens VAI Metals Technologies concluded a contract with ArcelorMittal to install an integrated Manufacturing Execution System (MES), including production planning and scheduling software, in its Galați plant in Romania.
The IT solution will enable the entire plant’s production to be planned and monitored in real time. It will also provide ArcelorMittal Galati with a basis for making continuous improvements along the entire production chain. The project will be handled jointly with Quintiq, an advanced planning & scheduling software company.
The MES solution to be used at ArcelorMittal Galați is based on the Simatic IT Production Suite, complemented by industry-specific Simetal MES program libraries and a standard Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) solution from Quintiq. The Simatic IT Unilab laboratory information management system will be used for quality management, and Simetal Siloc for stockyard management. The MES features a modular structure that allows for stage-by-stage implementation and makes future expansions easier.
The integrated Manufacturing Execution System ensures an all-encompassing data flow from workshop level through operational control to management level, thus enabling all intermediate and finished product movements to be scheduled, controlled and checked. This increases transparency, and enables the business management to make decisions based on reliable data.
The Quintiq Company Planner and Schedulers module supports assignment of the individual production orders to production steps while controlling inventory and available capacity for melt, casting, the hot rolling mill, the cold rolling mill, and the plate mill. This substantially improves the reliability of deliveries, lead-time, and service to clients, and also helps to reduce stock. It also ensures optimum usage of plant and raw materials, and that machines are only released for maintenance when this will not affect current orders. This increases both productivity and availability.
Data collected by the MES for any production step can be called in real time at all times, and can be aggregated for key performance indicators (KPIs). This information can be used to make detailed analyses of the performance of individual parts of the plant as well as downtimes. In this way, the system provides the basis for continuous improvement along the entire production chain.
The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.
ArcelorMittal Galați, one of the most important steel producers in Romania, produces heavy plates as well as hot-rolled, cold-rolled and galvanized strip. This integrated production location comprises sinter plants, blast furnaces, an LD steel works, continuous slab casters, a hot and a plate rolling mill, as well as a cold rolling mill and a galvanizing line. The company produces steel for various applications such as shipbuilding and pipeline construction as well as for the construction and automotive industries in Romania and abroad.
Quintiq provides advanced planning, scheduling and supply chain management software solutions. This fast-growing company, established in 1997, offers and implements software for planning and optimizing complex business processes throughout the enterprise. The company’s headquarters are located in The Netherlands, regional HQ in Philadelphia, and subsidiaries are based in Australia, China, Finland, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and the UK. Quintiq systems are implemented in 74 countries worldwide.
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is a leading international supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. The Sector comprises six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 204,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2010 total sales of approximately €34.9 billion.
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. With around 29,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.0 billion in fiscal year 2010.
