Expertise

Data analytics is a core offering at Worthington that is continuously improving, so we can make better and faster decisions to serve you.

1.  PROACTIVE DATA MONITORING

Our quality engineers, sales reps, supply chain specialists, and metallurgists see everything about your steel order: incoming and in-process quality, product capability, material selection, and inventory.

2. STREAMING TO ONE PORTAL

From our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Level 2 Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), vision systems, and measuring devices, data filters into an easily accessed Amazon Web Services (AWS) portal on the cloud.

3. THE RESULT: BETTER DATA

With a few clicks, we help improve every aspect of the steel you buy. Data SWAT teams help our facilities move more level 2 data online for even more integrated analysis.

Product quality analysis leads to actions that improve reliability, consistency, overall product quality, and delivery dates.

1. TRACKING STEEL QUALITY

From receiving raw steel to converting it to its intended use, our data analysis tools track its performance to help us find the root causes of issues.

2. IDENTIFYING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

Tools used by technical services help us detect mechanical, chemical, and dimensional data that trends toward or outside process control limits based on historical results.

3. THE RESULT: BETTER DATA

With access to better data, we are better able to act to prevent out-of-specification materials and keep failure rates down.

With quicker data available on product attributes, we are able to advise you on material applications.

1. REPLACING MANUAL ANALYSIS

Before data integration, we had to do extensive manual data mining to provide information on mechanical and dimensional properties for specific raw materials and finished goods.

2. VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOUS ACCESS

With technical and processing data now streaming to one platform, summary reports are available in minutes to evaluate incoming and in-process performance. Dimensional data also includes supplier comparisons of similar products.

3. THE RESULT: TIGHTER SPECS

With comprehensive data analysis, you can trust that the steel you ordered is the steel you got. Which means more reliable performance on your line and in your finished products.

Faster in-depth analysis of chemical properties and surface finish ensures that you get more consistent results from your steel.

1. GETTING ANSWERS QUICKER

Previously, answering questions about chemical and surface properties required extensive manual data mining to get information needed for specific raw materials and finished goods.

2. SUPPORTING MORE TIMELY SOLUTIONS

Readily available summary reports now quickly point to solutions: For chemical properties, to find process and cost efficiencies. For surface finishes, to evaluate cold rolled strip surface roughness sustainability and product capability unique to specific alloys/grades practices.

3. THE RESULT: IMPROVED PROPERTIES

You’ll know that the steel you’re getting from us will have the chemical and surface properties that allow it to perform as you expect it to.

WE evaluate coating weight performance so we can proactively respond to operational practices.

1. GETTING BETTER DATA

Before we created our streaming data platform, it was much more complicated to evaluate coating weight performance. Data was mined manually, which took time and did not always yield reliable answers.

2. PREDICTING PERFORMANCE

With data now available through the cloud, summary reports are available in minutes to help us answer your questions and anticipate coating weight performance for product quality or capability decisions—based on the results of previous coils.

3. THE RESULT: BETTER DECISIONS

Better data, available with the click of a button, means better decisions for us and our customers. And of course, better performance.

“Broad brushstroke” data analysis lets us survey macro-level product attributes to determine which steel will work best for you.

1. SUPPORTING BETTER TOLERANCES

This approach lets us quickly leverage the large body of data to support the growing needs of more restricted tolerances.

2. INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

In minutes, our data portal offers a look at broad groups of alloy grades, process paths (or recipes), and thicknesses to understand mechanical and dimensional performance capabilities—based on the performance of previous coils.

3. THE RESULT: THE BEST PATH

Our system groups results by processing path, which helps us recommend to you which path will lead to the highest level of success.

Repetitive issues won’t be solved until the true cause is discovered. Robust data analysis gets us there quicker.

1. MORE RELIABLE SOLUTIONS

Tapping a large database of process data helps our metallurgists and quality experts reach and implement solutions faster, confident that an issue has been addressed.

2. COIL-BY-COIL DATA

Our investigative work now includes rapid review of process data against common process variables. Readily available, coil-by-coil visual data forms a quick picture of relationships that may correlate to the failure.

3. THE RESULT: BETTER PROCESSES

Our entire team of production facilities collaborates to help accomplish continuous improvement of your processes—as well as the steel you use.

Our inventory viewer provides an instantaneous snapshot of material on hand across all our facilities.

1. SEEING WHAT WE HAVE

Data on view includes important material attributes for chemistry and properties, and status in our system, such as raw material, WIP, or finished goods.

2. KEEPING UP WITH NEEDS

With our inventory now easy to search by source and material attributes, our metallurgists and technical staff can easily check what’s on hand as your needs change.

3. THE RESULT: BETTER DECISIONS

As your opportunities evolve, we help you react more quickly and make better decisions, with full knowledge of timing and materials available.

We receive a comprehensive picture of our steel coils to improve the steel you get from us, and guide our suppliers to do the same.

1. SMART TRACKING OF DEFECTS

We compare coils via heat map data, by defect or location. Monitor defect classification accuracy across our plants. View defect trending by supplier, Worthington plant, and grade. Highlight patterns with overlay views for a specific defect from multiple coils. And evaluate how added operations help eliminate defects.

2. AT THE SPEED OF SIGHT

Dashboards instantly show us products requiring disposition, and the status of vision systems themselves, ensuring real time readiness of cameras and data storage.

3. THE RESULT: BETTER QUALITY

Defects get detected quickly—and dealt with—by our process metallurgists and quality engineers.