Digital transformation

EVRAZ digital transformation strategically addresses customer focus and asset development

Main digital transformation initiatives

2019 initiatives

Ideation sessions

To search for innovative technology-based solutions, EVRAZ employs ‘design thinking’, a core element of which is ideation sessions. During these, teams of various employees work to find solutions to current tasks, including by harnessing digital technologies. In 2019, the Group conducted 10 such sessions: in all Russian divisions, the trading unit and several subdivisions. From them, new ideas were prioritised and plans to develop and implement them were devised, and some projects are already under way.

Agile approach

In 2019, EVRAZ made a major leap forward in using flexible methodologies for developing software and executing IT projects. Such approaches aim to increase internal customer satisfaction and reduce project delivery time. Within the Group, the ‘agile’ culture is promoted among both IT specialists and people in business subdivisions, and its effectiveness is clear from the results delivered by combined project teams encompassing product owners, ‘scrum masters’ and experts in various areas. Over the last year, 10 initiatives were implemented in accordance with agile principles.

2020 plans and priorities

Advanced analytics

In 2020, EVRAZ is planning to launch a range of advanced analytical projects that are expected to have an overall effect of US$10-12 million. The aim is to optimise technological processes in all production areas using expert systems based on machine learning models. Each system is designed to improve product quality and quantity.

In addition, as part of the programme, a Data Science competence centre and a technological IT platform will be established to process data.

New digital solution development centre

The Group is also planning to open an additional digital competence centre in Novosibirsk. When choosing the location for the new facility, the main factors were considered: maturity of the IT personnel market, number of quality higher educational institutions, convenience of location and transport links to EVRAZ main production units. Among other things, the centre will focus on advanced analytical and machine learning technologies.

KEY DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION projects in 2019

Siberia division (EVRAZ ZSMK)

Products high in rhomboidity from continuous casting machines are rejected, or they need to be processed further (grinding, etc) before being dispatched to the customer. A visual inspection for rhomboidity is conducted at the final stage of casting, when it is too late to rectify.
Inbuilt machine-learning algorithms analyse the array of operational data collected to identify hidden patterns indicating rhomboidity. Software predicts existing rhomboidity in real time in the casting mould (where the shape of the final cast is formed). The system informs the continuous casting machine operator of the optimal casting speed needed to keep rhomboidity within acceptable limits.

A system has been developed and implemented to optimise all metal production units with a view to maximising EBITDA.
The system uses mathematical models for all facilities and calculates the end-to-end economic effect given existing restrictions and possibilities for changing the composition of raw materials and semi-finished products. It uses non-linear optimisation methods and GAMS modelling system to identify the global optimum based on 79,000 variables that occur monthly.

In the testing zone of EVRAZ ZSMK’s rail and beam shop, in the hot-rolling mill, the existing automated process control systems have been upgraded to the level of an equipment control system: a monitoring and diagnostic system. The aim is to transform the company's asset maintenance function from a reactive model to a preventive (giving the possibility of planning servicing) and predictive (giving the possibility of forecasting condition) one.
Additional functionality has also been introduced:

• monitors and diagnoses defects in the main production equipment in real time
• Monitoring images and operator actions by camera
• Digitalising specialist experience and knowledge

Coal division (Raspadskaya coal company)

In the control room at Raspadskaya, the video display wall, featuring 19 video panels with analytical information, has been upgraded. It gives information about the air and gas monitoring equipment (data about methane levels in mines); longwall operations (data about the position of mining equipment and reasons for downtime); the positioning system in mines; a summary of the planned and actual mining, throughput and shipment; efficiency indicators; conveyor belts (data about downtime); and the Kuznetskaya beneficiation plant. Videos of shipments and data from underground cameras can be viewed. Executives and managers have access to a web portal and mobile application that enable them to efficiently monitor key occupational safety and production indicators.

After the pilot project was completed at the Osinnikovskaya mine in 2018, the system was rolled out to all of Raspadskaya’s other underground mining operations.
The system consists of specially designed stands containing readers:

• Access card reader (for descent and ascension)
• Cap lamp tag reader
• Portable gas analyser reader
• Control unit, computer and monitor to visualise tagging process

This allows the employee to independently link their cap lamp tag to their data (from their access card). In the future, without this linked tag, access to the mineshaft will be blocked for the employee.
In addition, miners are checked to ensure that they have personal protective equipment (PPE) and have undergone a medical examination.
This system is integrated with the access control and underground personnel positioning system.

Urals division (EVRAZ NTMK)

In the testing zone of EVRAZ NTMK’s wheel and tyre shop, an automated system for monitoring equipment condition has been introduced. It creates a single IT environment for maintenance teams and a foundation for transitioning predictive equipment maintenance. A permanent vibration diagnostics system has been installed that:

• monitors and diagnoses defects in the main production equipment in real time
• conducts continuous diagnostics of equipment in various technological regimes under loading conditions
• provides remote access to diagnostic information to several specialists simultaneously in real time removing the need for inspections and checks

Before the introduction of the system, to ensure an effective temperature for secondary steel processing, operators in the continuous casting plants nos. 1-4, used the maximum permissible temperature given in the technological manuals, as well as experience gained from previous runs. This was insufficient for casting steel at maximum permissible speeds.
As a deliverable of this project, a model was built to calculate the optimal production temperature for the casting ladle from the secondary steel processing section. The model was developed based on a production efficiency audit.

HR directives regarding employee transfers and appointments are now created using a master template in a single web system (instead of three information systems previously).
Both inventory ordering for production and quality certificates for end products have been moved to electronic format, with digital signatures and storage in an electronic archive.
A digital version of the labour safety manual has been created. To introduce electronic signatures of users, a EVRAZ corporate registration centre has been established. Another 10 types of documents are being developed. The ultimate aim is to end the use of paper documents in full.