Turning Data into Value: How AI Boosts Efficiency in Milling Plants
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic today, but can it truly enhance the performance of a milling plant? Paolo Molinari – head of Ocrim’s electrical systems and automation department – has no doubts: the key lies in the data. If accurate and up-to-date, AI can generate real value; without it, its potential remains untapped.
Ocrim has embarked on a research and development journey to apply AI in optimizing production and maintenance. Data collection is carried out through the MES Management@mill system, which manages raw materials, processing cycles, maintenance, and energy consumption. These data are securely stored on the Ocrim Cloud, ensuring protection and continuous access to feed the algorithms.
The main areas of experimentation include:
- Advanced Production Planning: AI suggests the optimal processing sequence by considering recipes, consumption, and energy costs, enhancing productivity without replacing the operator’s decision-making role.
- Predictive Maintenance: shifting from a reactive to a predictive approach, AI analyzes historical and real-time data to prevent breakdowns, optimize interventions, and reduce plant downtime.
- Virtual Assistant (under development): a digital support tool that uses simulated scenarios to help operators make more informed decisions regarding settings and plant management.
The goal? Improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and extend plant longevity, all while maintaining a strong focus on safety and sustainability.
As Thomas Eliot once said:
“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”
T. S. Eliot ,The Rock (1934)
At Ocrim, we transform data into value.
Want to know more? Watch the full webinar on our YouTube channel.
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