MYTILINEOS streamlines large-scale logistics with Azure Custom Vision

MYTILINEOS operates four Business Units (BU): the Power & Gas BU, the Metallurgy BU, the Renewables & Storage Development BU and the Sustainable Engineering Solutions BU. MYTILINEOS is committed to pioneer by adopting intelligent, efficient, and sustainable business practices that benefit not only employees and customers, but also the environment at large.

Innovating for greater efficiency

“Our company was facing a fundamental challenge to improve the efficiency of our delivery operations,” begins Spyros Bekiaris, Transportation & Port Manager at MYTILINEOS. “We were asking our employees at the port to count the aluminum slabs and billets being loaded onto ships for delivery and to cross-reference those figures against loading plans. The process was prone to errors and resulted in delays when the numbers didn’t match. We needed to manage daily loading with reduced errors and minimal time between issues and fixes.”

With the help of Microsoft Consulting Services, MYTILINEOS solved the problem using computer vision technology. “We recognize the importance of digital transformation in order to remain competitive,” explains Minas Chaniotis, IT Center of Excellence Manager at MYTILINEOS. “That’s why we turned to Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services, Custom Vision.”

A cutting-edge solution

Using the dock’s existing cameras, MYTILINEOS ran a proof-of-concept using video feeds of loading operations that were analyzed with Azure Cognitive Services, Custom Vision. Thanks to the pre-built image recognition models supplied by Azure, a large image dataset was not required for model training, dramatically accelerating development.

Soon, MYTILINEOS could identify forklifts going in or out of the stockyard and even detect anomalies such as a forklift returning full, or going out to the loading bays empty. “It’s been very positive for our workers, too,” Bekiaris adds. “Standing outside in the summer sun counting metal slabs is a harsh and repetitive task, is a job that nobody enjoys. With the process automated, our employees can now be assigned to different roles where they can use their time more effectively.”

Looking to the future

Going forward, MYTILINEOS hopes to expand the system’s features to include measuring the performance of forklift drivers, checking routes, distances covered, and where products are being sourced. The team has also been leveraging other leading Microsoft technology – including automating invoicing with Power Apps and tapping into rapid, augmented reality insights with HoloLens 2 – furthering its commitment to an efficient, technology-driven future.

“Continuous growth for our people and our company is one of our fundamental values,” Bekiaris emphasizes. “We recognize the importance of digital transformation in order to remain competitive. That’s why we turned to Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services, Custom Vision.”