Industry 4.0 Revolution in Petrochemical and Steel Industries: Greater Efficiency, Lower Costs, and Better Quality!

The Internet of Things (IoT) and smart manufacturing have applications in most industrial and service sectors. In manufacturing industries, IoT can help improve the performance of machinery, reduce production costs, increase the quality of products, and improve workplace safety.

Given the industrial conditions of the country, it can be said that many Iranian industries require smart manufacturing. In general, industries that have high production costs, complex and time-consuming processes, require quality control, or need to track and trace materials benefit more from smart manufacturing. This article aims to examine those industries that require smart manufacturing to increase productivity and improve performance.

Advancement to Modern Levels: Smart Manufacturing in the Petrochemical Industry

Petrochemical is one of the largest oil industries in Iran and is known as one of the most important industrial sectors worldwide. In general, smart manufacturing in the petrochemical industry involves the use of information and communication technologies, automated controls, commercial and technical innovations, intelligent monitoring, big data processing, and information security.

The goal of smart manufacturing in the petrochemical industry is to increase productivity, reduce cost pressures, increase the profit-to-revenue ratio, and improve performance. This challenge must be addressed by utilizing appropriate design and precise improvements, more accurate data, and overall increasing the processing power of information in the petrochemical industry. Smart manufacturing in the petrochemical industry in Iran will be one of the effective solutions to increase performance, reduce costs, and improve quality. Some of the major companies active in the petrochemical industry that have emphasized the need for smart manufacturing include Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company, Khorasan Petrochemical Company, and Lorestan Petrochemical Company.

Leading Steel Industry in Smart Automation

The steel industry in Iran requires smart automation to improve efficiency in the future due to the complexity of production processes. Smart automation can improve product quality, reduce production costs, and enhance the control of quality and quantity of materials. Mohsen Shiribabadi, the Manager of Strategic Planning and Organizational Excellence at Khuzestan Steel Company, states that it is predicted that in the coming years, the automation of business processes will create a new revolutionary change in industries worldwide. He says, "The steel industry, as one of the determining industries in the global economy, will undergo tremendous changes in the coming years. Moving towards the use of new technologies in the steel industry will have many benefits for both producers and consumers of this valuable metal. Nevertheless, it seems that these changes require special attention in the country's policymaking to avoid falling behind in this important caravan." Khuzestan Steel Company and Mobarakeh Steel Company, as two of the largest steel producers in the country, are striving to move forward with the use of advanced technologies in line with the latest global technology. In recent years, these two companies have successfully undergone transformations in their information systems, communication infrastructure, and data centers by focusing on strategic goals. The use of advanced technologies in production lines, such as advanced algorithms in the steelmaking and melting process, monitoring systems, wireless canopies, management dashboards, and the development of mobile application systems, can also be mentioned.