Case Study: Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH achieves rapid, optimized just‑in‑time steel scheduling with MathWorks MATLAB

HKM Optimizes Just-in-Time Steel Manufacturing Schedule

Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH (HKM) faced the challenge of reliably producing more than 5 million tonnes of steel per year while meeting tight just‑in‑time delivery windows across a process with more than 150 discrete steps. Manual dispatching was error‑prone, concentrated knowledge in a few employees, and could not consistently balance customer delivery schedules, equipment constraints, temperatures, and material availability. To address this, HKM turned to MathWorks and its MATLAB platform and related toolboxes.

Using MathWorks’ MATLAB with Global Optimization Toolbox, HKM developed a genetic‑algorithm–based scheduler, accelerated with Parallel Computing Toolbox and MATLAB Distributed Computing Server on a 16‑worker cluster, and packaged as a Java component via MATLAB Compiler and MATLAB Compiler SDK for integration into their production system. The MathWorks solution cut algorithm development time by 10×, reduced optimization runtime from about one hour to roughly five minutes, enabled dispatchers to plan 24–48 hours (and up to four weeks) in advance, and increased on‑time deliveries and customer satisfaction.

Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH

Alexey Nagaytsev

Project Manager