MMK joins forces with Yandex Data Factory to optimise material use thanks to Big Data technology
IT specialists from Yandex Data Factory and MMK-Informservice (an MMK Group subsidiary) together with specialists of the OCP and research and development centre at OJSC MMK are currently analysing information covering the OCP’s operations over previous years. A Machine Learning algorithm will be incorporated into the mathematical model that is being developed based on corporate information available on the Apache Hadoop platform. The final software solution will receive data on the original composition, original weight and requirements regarding the chemical composition of the steel produced, and the mathematical model will help it indicate the optimal amount of ferroalloys and supplementary materials to be used during steelmaking. The Sniper project employs Big Data technologies – processing large sets of data in order to improve management process and optimise production.
The final stage of the project is expected to include a quality check involving a series of experimental steelmaking processes in which additive composition is based on the system’s recommendations.
“MMK is the first heavy industry client for Yandex Data Factory. Our joint project is aimed at the maximum optimisation of the production process. We expect to achieve a significant impact from raw materials savings. The implementation of this pilot project will make it possible to expand our cooperation with Yandex and extend it to the Company’s other production facilities,” says Sergey Sulimov, Deputy CEO for Finance and Economy at OJSC MMK.
MMK is one of the world's largest steel producers and a leading Russian metals company. The company's operations in Russia include a large steel producing complex encompassing the entire production chain, from preparation of iron ore to downstream processing of rolled steel. MMK turns out a broad range of steel products with a predominant share of high-value-added products. In 2014, the company produced 13.0 million tonnes of crude steel and 12.2 million tonnes of commercial steel products. MMK Group had sales in 2014 of USD 7,952 million and EBITDA of USD 1,607 million.
Yandex Data Factory (YDF) is an international division of Yandex aimed at providing solutions for companies dealing with large sets of data. Yandex technologies – machine learning, image and speech recognition, deep neural networks, natural language processing – make it possible to analyse large volumes of data and identify the optimum solution. In addition to the technologies needed to process Big Data, Yandex employs the leading experts in this field. YDF’s clients include Sberbank, games developer Wargaming, Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor), biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and others.