Back to How We Help Clients

OptimusAI

Increasing productivity in heavy industry processing plants with advanced analytics

Processing plants are complex, with intricate, non-linear interactions across thousands of variables and multiple trade-offs to solve for. Operating decisions are typically made through process control tools solving for a local optimization, or are based on an individual operator’s experience, which can vary significantly. Amidst this complexity, technology generates enormous amounts of data across the value chain. When used to its full potential, data can drive productivity improvement and help plants achieve optimal results.
Capturing value from advanced analytics requires multiple skillsets, such as data science, process control and metallurgy, IT, change management, and capability building. OptimusAI leverages a full portfolio of digital solutions that combines science, data, and experts to help processing plants in heavy industries make data-driven decisions to improve profit per hour.

Video

Revolutionizing processing plant optimization

What if artificial intelligence could take data from processing plants and use it to optimize the plant in real-time?

4-5%

EBITDA uplift by improving productivity of industrial processing plants

>$4B

impact created for OptimusAI clients

Our approach

Our tried and tested approach to advanced analytics brings together a robust delivery process with a collaborative team of specialists—both supported by proprietary technology and products.

People

We bring a mix of data science, process control, operations, and design expertise, with hands-on experience in applying advanced analytics to improve processing.

Process

With our focus on processing, we have developed a standard recipe for deploying high-impact solutions efficiently and sustainably. We help organizations move quickly to capture impact while building capabilities for long-term success.

Technology

Our proprietary capability develops control room advisor systems to improve processing performance. OptimusAI uses state-of-the-art data science to optimize performance in the context of thousands of variables, and includes an easy-to-use interface to process recommendations.

Examples of our work

Leveraging AI to improve productivity of a copper concentration plant

A major copper concentrate producer was struggling to run grinding mills at its ideal capacity and to achieve top-decile recovery performance. The challenges were driven by the plant’s complex operations, where thousands of sensors were fed to a control system to solve for non-linear functions and trade-offs. We created a custom-built artificial intelligence model–loaded with three years of operating data–to identify operational tweaks that would boost copper production at consistent quality. As a result, the plant improved throughput by a range of 10 to 15 percent, and copper recovery in a range of two to four percentage points.

Launching a tech-enabled manufacturing transformation at a biochemicals plant network

A leader in biochemicals aspired to embed digital and analytics in its way of working. Together, we launched a tech-enabled manufacturing transformation, initiated with the deployment of five global centers of excellence and sustained by training the majority of the practitioners. Through a series of agile sprints, we developed advanced analytics models to identify the most important drivers for process variability. Automated data pipelines and interactive dashboards enabled embedding this data-driven decision making into daily operations. As a result, operators were able to reduce process variability and to increase throughput by 10 to 15 percent in bottlenecked sites.

Optimizing advanced process controls to improve throughput and yield at a pulp and paper mill

A large North American pulp mill operation was only achieving 60 percent of its target production at sub-optimal quality in final product. We leveraged AI to review the design of existing control strategy, including advanced process control (APC) loops, at key unit operations in the mill. It helped identify the gaps in the control design and operating philosophy. AI also helped in identifying the desired operating ranges—including set points and upper or lower tolerances—for key process variables in the APC in close relationship with subject matter experts. This resulted in a 15 percent increase in throughput and four percent increase in yield.

Leveraging machine learning to optimize performance for a refinery in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

A leading European refining operations company was aspiring to improve one of its top-performing assets using state-of-the art analytics tools. The asset already had industry leading analytical tools in place such as unit level APCs, kinetic models, and site-level linear program optimizer.

We partnered with a global cloud computing leader to develop custom-built machine learning models and tools to improve prediction of quality specs, process indicators, constraints, and unit performance. These models served to create a global optimizer to minimize quality giveaway while maximizing throughput. It helped achieve a $0.3/bbl margin improvement (equivalent to five percent variable operating margin).

Featured insights

Scaling digital and analytics-enabled improvements in chemicals and agriculture

– Productivity in process industries depends on scaling technology and traditional operating disciplines at the same time.

How the petrochemicals industry can benefit from advanced analytics

– Four key elements that can help companies launch advanced analytics and machine learning programs.

An AI power play: Fueling the next wave of innovation in the energy sector

– How Vistra Corp. is partnering with McKinsey to improve efficiency and reduce emissions by using AI

Five agility myths in energy and heavy industries

– Agile working practices in energy and heavy industries can make them faster, more efficient, and more resilient. Here are five myths and their realities.

Tapping digital’s full potential in pulp and paper process optimization

– While many pulp and paper companies have been automated for years, they are only now starting to reap the full potential of digital technologies.

Prediction at scale: How industry can get more value out of maintenance

– Machines can now tell you when they aren’t feeling well. The challenge for today’s industrial players lies in applying advanced predictive-maintenance technologies across the full scope of their operations.

Succeeding in the AI supply-chain revolution

– New technology solutions could be transformative—but only if executives properly prepare their organizations.

A smarter way to digitize maintenance and reliability

– In heavy-equipment maintenance, digital and analytics tools are struggling to live up to their promise. Here’s how to help them pull their weight.

Transforming quality and warranty through advanced analytics

– Industrial companies are leveraging advanced analytics, through artificial intelligence and machine learning, to drive quality and warranty transformations to the next level.

Getting value from advanced digital technology for industrial gas companies

– With relatively little risk, industrial gas companies can optimize parts of their operations with advanced technologies.

How digital and analytics can unlock full potential in steel

– Our recent survey of 30 leading global metals companies indicates there are five main factors to successfully scale digital and analytics.

The right tools for every job: Lean and agile in maintenance

– Why tomorrow’s maintenance function will combine the strengths of lean and agile organizations.

The potential of advanced process controls in energy and materials

– Optimizing advanced process controls can create significant value for critical industrial processes. Maximizing that value requires a comprehensive approach across people, processes, and technologies.

Remote operating centers in mining: Unlocking their full potential

– As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates innovative working practices, mining companies are reimagining their operating models to provide more productive and enjoyable remote work locations for employees.

Optimizing water treatment with online sensing and advanced analytics

– Overlaying real-time advanced analytics on data from online sensing can help to stabilize operations and increase capacity in water-treatment facilities.

The mine-to-market value chain: A hidden gem

– Enhancing end-to-end performance of the mine-to-market value chain can be a major source of value creation—yet fragmented responsibilities often cause companies to lose sight of the big picture.

How artificial intelligence can improve resilience in mineral processing during uncertain times

– Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mineral-processing companies were grappling with profound uncertainty. Those that took steps to harness the power of AI improved agility and operational resilience.

Mining companies’ response to coronavirus

– Mining companies enduring the first wave of COVID-19 effects on their operating models need to think about responding across five horizons.

How to build AI with (and for) everyone in your organization

– Becoming an AI-driven business requires contributions from your entire workforce. While the transformation takes time, several tactics can begin democratizing AI now.

Inside a mining company’s AI transformation

– How copper-mining giant Freeport-McMoRan unlocked next-level performance with help from McKinsey data scientists and agile coaches.

How top companies excel with digital and analytics

– Six key areas to help senior executives manage a tech-enabled transformation.

Global AI Survey: AI proves its worth, but few scale impact

– Most companies report measurable benefits from AI where it has been deployed; however, much work remains to scale impact, manage risks, and retrain the workforce. A group of high performers shows the way.

Connect with OptimusAI