8 Practical Steps to Implement AI in Steel Manufacturing for Sustainability

Article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic technology—it’s now an essential component for optimizing processes, improving efficiency, and staying competitive. However, integrating AI into an organization can seem complex. How should you proceed? Here are 8 simple steps to create an AI integration plan tailored to your business needs.

#1: Identify strategic goals

Before considering which AI tools to use or developing new custom solutions, start by clarifying your company’s strategic objectives. What do you aim to achieve with AI? Are you looking to:

  • Reduce operational costs?
  • Optimize internal processes?
  • Enhance customer satisfaction?
  • Increase sales or better target prospects?
  • Boost operational resilience in key roles?
  • Differentiate yourself from competitors by emphasizing a unique strength (e.g., customer service)?

Example: A steel company might aim to reduce manual processing of compliance documents (e.g., mill test reports) or anticipate raw material needs for strategic purchasing.
Tip: Ensure that AI aligns with your business objectives to maximize its impact.

 

#2: Assess internal processes

Once your objectives are established, conduct a comprehensive review of your internal processes. Which areas could benefit from automation or optimization? AI should address specific needs, not just be implemented for novelty.

Identify operational pain points such as:

  • Repetitive or time-consuming tasks.
  • Manual processes prone to errors.
  • Delays in decision-making.
  • Critical processes dependent on a single individual.

Example: AI could be used to automate supplier invoice processing or improve production scheduling.

#3: Prioritize use cases

Based on your assessment, select a few use cases where AI can have an immediate impact. It’s crucial to start with projects that demonstrate quick and tangible results.

Examples:

  • Sales and Marketing: Use AI to automate meeting summaries or enhance customer segmentation.
  • Administrative Services: Automate data entry to reduce errors and eliminate time-intensive manual tasks.
  • Operations: Use AI to forecast raw material needs, enabling you to purchase at the best time based on client demand trends and market variables.

Tip: Don’t start too big. Focus on quick wins to showcase AI’s benefits and build internal support.

#4: Assemble an innovation team

Successful AI integration requires forming a dedicated innovation team. This team should include both technology experts and staff familiar with operational challenges.

Team composition:

  • Innovation leader: An internal champion who understands the company’s vision and can drive change.
  • Technology specialists: Experts to evaluate and implement AI solutions.
  • Operational staff: Team members with deep knowledge of critical problems and real-world needs.

Example: In a steel manufacturing company, the innovation team might include a production engineer, the operations manager, the logistics head, and an AI expert.

#5: Select the right tools and technology partners

With the team in place, choose the AI tools that best suit your needs. You might use existing AI solutions to automate routine tasks (e.g., automated invoicing software or AI-integrated CRM tools) while developing custom features for processes specific to your business. Collaborating with specialized external partners can accelerate AI integration and maximize its impact.

Tip: Balance existing software for partial automation with custom coding to extend automation capabilities. The more tailored code your business uses, the faster you can infuse AI into your processes and gain a competitive edge.

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#6: Define an AI usage policy

Before deploying AI across the company, establish a clear usage policy. AI can raise concerns about data security, privacy, and task automation. Your policy should guide responsible AI use while protecting the company.

Key elements of an AI policy:

  • What is permitted and prohibited.
  • How to protect sensitive data.
  • Approved tools for employee use.
  • Responsibilities of each team member.

Example: Employees might be required to activate the ChatGPT setting that prevents their input data from being used to train the public model, ensuring that confidential submission documents remain secure.

#7: Train your teams and ensure follow-up

 

For a smooth transition, train your teams to use AI tools effectively. Every employee should understand how to incorporate AI into their daily tasks, and the innovation team must provide ongoing support.

Example: Train teams to use AI for automating invoice entry or leveraging ChatGPT to draft business proposals.
Tip: Schedule regular follow-ups to measure results, identify issues, and adjust the strategy as needed.

#8: Measure results and adapt

Once AI is implemented, track results regularly. The metrics to monitor will depend on your initial goals: productivity gains, error reduction, increased sales, etc. Use this data to refine your AI strategy.

Example: If AI used for inventory management doesn’t yield expected results, the innovation team could tweak the algorithm’s parameters or explore alternative tools.
Tip: Stay flexible. AI implementation is a continuous learning process.

Conclusion: a progressive, structured integration plan

AI integration doesn’t have to be an intimidating project. It’s about taking one manageable step at a time. By following these simple steps—from defining objectives to measuring results—you can make AI a driver of transformation and efficiency in your company. Start small, ensure AI addresses real needs, and support your teams throughout the transition. With the right plan and approach, AI can become a significant asset for your competitiveness.

How Openmind and Code&Steel can help

At Openmind and Code&Steel, we understand the unique challenges of the steel industry and have extensive expertise in integrating AI to maximize our clients’ efficiency and competitiveness. As a strategic partner, we guide you through every step, from assessing needs to implementing custom solutions. Our deep industry knowledge and mastery of AI technologies enable us to identify high-ROI solutions and ensure a smooth, secure transition to advanced automation.

Together, let’s make AI and custom coding a sustainable lever for your growth and competitiveness.

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