Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group is introducing innovations to control product quality at Zaporizhstal. The artificial intelligence (AI) system, called ForgeCheck, automatically detects defects in the production of slabs, a semi-finished steel product used to make sheet steel.
The projected savings from the implementation of the technology are $250,000 per year, the company’s press service said.
How ForgeCheck works
The technology was introduced in June 2024. AI helps employees identify defects faster at the slab cutting stage.
- Defect highlighting:
- Red – if the defect is confirmed.
- Yellow – if the defect is not classified.
- Green – in the absence of a defect.
- Model accuracy: 75-85% with the potential to increase to 97%.
Economic effect
Reduced claims and energy savings were the main benefits of the implementation:
- Complaints: The technology is expected to reduce customer complaints by 60%.
- Energy saving: Quick defect detection prevents delays in the production process.
Development and prospects
ForgeCheck cost approximately $80,000 to develop, using open-source technology. The company plans to release the second version of the tool in 2025, which will provide even more improvements.
Scaling and collaboration
Due to the specifics of the products at different Metinvest enterprises, it is still difficult to scale the solution. At the same time, the company is considering the possibility of commercialising the development after testing is completed.
“The priority for the next year is to complete the second version of the AI tool. This will help to significantly reduce the percentage of claims and ensure better financial results,” said Maksym Balaniuk, Head of R&D at Metinvest Digital.
Innovation as the future of production
Metinvest is demonstrating how technology can transform production processes, providing not only improved product quality but also significant economic benefits.
