4 ways metals companies can use AI-powered tools to their advantage
1. Reduce quality defects
Consistently delivering quality products is a top priority for metals companies, but quality control is often a reactive process. When a product is defective, it takes time and effort to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. With AI, data from past problems can be used to offer suggestions for the future. For example, a defective product might have been caused by the combination of material grade with the use of a particular machine. Therefore, when an order comes in for that product, AI tools can flag it with a recommended material and machine to proactively avoid defects and produce a high-quality product.
2. Recommend distribution models
When a metals company has multiple distribution centers and multiple orders coming in, many factors contribute to strategically determining which orders will be filled by each distribution center. AI engines can automatically take into account all relevant data points and offer a recommended distribution model. A more seamless experience can help with cost savings, faster delivery time, and higher customer satisfaction.
3. Predict accurate pricing
The pricing structure for a metals company is a critical element of success. Business can be affected if pricing is off by even a penny. Fortunately, many metals companies have legacy pricing data that AI tools can use to help predict future pricing. As the sales team works to create an accurate pricing structure to maximize margin or volume – whichever aligns with company goals – AI tools can offer suggestions to help leaders make the best decision based on past data and broader forecast data.
4. Mitigate supply chain disruptions
With ongoing supply chain uncertainty within the metals industry, AI can help mitigate disruptions sooner. For instance, Dynamics 365 Copilot can monitor the local weather where vendors are located and flag potential disruptions. If a weather event might affect shipments, AI-powered assistance can pull contact information for the affected vendors and draft emails with relevant details about the event and orders in question. This AI-generated support gives metals leaders an opportunity to respond quickly to disruptions and inform customers of potential delays or create a plan to avoid the delay.
