How can processes in an industrial company be made more efficient and sustainable using artificial intelligence (AI)? 16-year-old schoolgirl Xenia Schwier from Düsseldorf received answers to this question in the "My position is top" school competition. For one day, she took over the position from Nils Janus, who is working with an interdisciplinary team to drive forward the implementation of AI technologies across the Group at Covestro.
Exclusive insights into the AI strategy
Xenia accompanied Nils Janus at meetings, presentations and project discussions on the further development of Covestro's Group-wide AI strategy and the implementation of initiatives. "It was fascinating to see that AI is used in so many different areas," reports Xenia. "What particularly impressed me was seeing how artificial intelligence helps to optimize processes and make them more efficient in practice," summarizes Xenia.
Pilot project as an example of the use of AI
An AI pilot project at a Covestro plant in Dormagen demonstrated how AI helps to optimize logistics, production processes and plant capacity utilization. Second Plant Manager Markus Schüler and production expert Thomas Klasen explained the project as part of the action day. "The AI we have developed can already make technical decisions in the plant to an extent controlled by the plant management," says Schüler.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is the key
"As a data-intensive industry with many highly complex processes, the chemical industry is predestined for the use of AI," explains Chief AI Officer Nils Janus. "With learning systems, we can make processes more efficient and sustainable. This will always depend on close interaction between humans and AI. Interdisciplinary collaboration between different specialist areas is the key to unlocking the full potential of AI."
Participating for the fourth time
Covestro took part in the "My position is top" campaign for the fourth time. On the initiative of the industry association ChemCologne, a total of 24 chemical companies from the region have made 51 top positions available for students to apply for.