IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i8p1981-d1633349.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Recent Innovations in Computer and Automation Engineering for Performance Improvement in the Steel Industry Production Chain: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Crescenzo Pepe

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Giorgia Farella

    (BROKEN POT SOCIETA’ BENEFIT S.R.L., Via Santa Maria Segreta 6, 20123 Milano, Italy
    PINK NOISE SRL, Via Santa Maria Segreta 6, 20123 Milano, Italy)

  • Giovanni Bartucci

    (BROKEN POT SOCIETA’ BENEFIT S.R.L., Via Santa Maria Segreta 6, 20123 Milano, Italy
    PINK NOISE SRL, Via Santa Maria Segreta 6, 20123 Milano, Italy)

  • Silvia Maria Zanoli

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

The steel industry is a hard-to-abate sector; it involves many energy-intensive and complex processes. Continuous performance improvement is a fundamental requirement. Efficiency enhancement of the involved sub-processes can serve as the basis of an effective roadmap for the industry’s decarbonization. Efficiency and performance can be investigated in terms of whole plants, parts of a plant, individual machines, or individual devices; in addition, efficiency and performance can be associated with different topics, e.g., energy, CO 2 emissions, sustainability, and product quality. In this context, computer and automation engineering innovations could have a massive impact due to both their specificity and their potential to contaminate other crucial disciplines in the field. This review paper aims to research and provide an update on state-of-the-art innovations (e.g., emerging technologies and best practices) for performance improvement in the steel industry production chain, focusing on Industry 4.0, digitalization, data, and key performance indicators. In addition, emphasis is placed on the reheating furnaces employed in hot rolling mills, due to their significant role in decarbonization and the creation of sustainability pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Crescenzo Pepe & Giorgia Farella & Giovanni Bartucci & Silvia Maria Zanoli, 2025. "Recent Innovations in Computer and Automation Engineering for Performance Improvement in the Steel Industry Production Chain: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-41, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:8:p:1981-:d:1633349
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/8/1981/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/8/1981/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jana Gerta Backes & Julian Suer & Nils Pauliks & Sabrina Neugebauer & Marzia Traverso, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of an Integrated Steel Mill Using Primary Manufacturing Data: Actual Environmental Profile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Bożena Gajdzik & Radosław Wolniak & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2023. "Electricity and Heat Demand in Steel Industry Technological Processes in Industry 4.0 Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-29, January.
    3. Silvia Maria Zanoli & Crescenzo Pepe & Lorenzo Orlietti, 2023. "Synergic Combination of Hardware and Software Innovations for Energy Efficiency and Process Control Improvement: A Steel Industry Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Thi-Ly Nguyen & Phi-Hung Nguyen & Hong-Anh Pham & Thi-Giang Nguyen & Duc-Thinh Nguyen & Thi-Hoai Tran & Hong-Cham Le & Huong-Thuy Phung, 2022. "A Novel Integrating Data Envelopment Analysis and Spherical Fuzzy MCDM Approach for Sustainable Supplier Selection in Steel Industry," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-28, June.
    5. Bożena Gajdzik & Radosław Wolniak, 2021. "Digitalisation and Innovation in the Steel Industry in Poland—Selected Tools of ICT in an Analysis of Statistical Data and a Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Chirumalla, Koteshwar, 2021. "Building digitally-enabled process innovation in the process industries: A dynamic capabilities approach," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    7. Mariusz Niekurzak & Jerzy Mikulik, 2021. "Modeling of Energy Consumption and Reduction of Pollutant Emissions in a Walking Beam Furnace Using the Expert Method—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, December.
    8. Kim, Sung-il & Joo, Younghwan, 2025. "Energy-based key performance indicator for energy-intensive manufacturing processes: Application to steel casting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    9. Wen-Hsien Tsai & Shu-Hui Lan & Hsiu-Li Lee, 2020. "Applying ERP and MES to Implement the IFRS 8 Operating Segments: A Steel Group’s Activity-Based Standard Costing Production Decision Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-33, May.
    10. Kasper, Lukas & Schwarzmayr, Paul & Birkelbach, Felix & Javernik, Florian & Schwaiger, Michael & Hofmann, René, 2024. "A digital twin-based adaptive optimization approach applied to waste heat recovery in green steel production: Development and experimental investigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PB).
    11. Radosław Depczyński & Jim Secka & Katarzyna Cheba & Carlotta D’Alessandro & Katarzyna Szopik-Depczyńska, 2023. "Decision-Making Approach in Sustainability Assessment in Steel Manufacturing Companies—Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, July.
    12. Laura Tolettini & Eleonora Di Maria, 2023. "Structuring and Measuring Environmental Sustainability in the Steel Sector: A Single Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-26, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bożena Gajdzik & Magdalena Jaciow & Radosław Wolniak & Robert Wolny & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2023. "Assessment of Energy and Heat Consumption Trends and Forecasting in the Small Consumer Sector in Poland Based on Historical Data," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-33, September.
    2. Katarzyna Tobór-Osadnik & Bożena Gajdzik & Grzegorz Strzelec, 2023. "Configurational Path of Decarbonisation Based on Coal Mine Methane (CMM): An Econometric Model for the Polish Mining Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Bożena Gajdzik & Radosław Wolniak & Wies Grebski, 2023. "Process of Transformation to Net Zero Steelmaking: Decarbonisation Scenarios Based on the Analysis of the Polish Steel Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-36, April.
    4. Bożena Gajdzik & Magdalena Jaciow & Radosław Wolniak & Robert Wolny & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2023. "Energy Behaviors of Prosumers in Example of Polish Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-26, March.
    5. Bożena Gajdzik & Radosław Wolniak, 2021. "Transitioning of Steel Producers to the Steelworks 4.0—Literature Review with Case Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Gitelman, Lazar & Kozhevnikov, Mikhail & Ditenberg, Maksim, 2024. "Electrification as a factor in replacing hydrocarbon fuel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    7. Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Hasan Huseyin Coban & Agnieszka Brelik, 2023. "Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, February.
    8. Galeone, Graziana & Ranaldo, Simona & Fusco, Antonio, 2024. "ESG and FinTech: Are they connected?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Wojciech Drożdż & Paweł Miązek, 2022. "Measures for Assessing the Effectiveness of Investments for Electricity and Heat Generation from the Hybrid Cooperation of a Photovoltaic Installation with a Heat Pump on the Example of a Household," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    10. Sebrek, Szabolcs S. & Romme, A. Georges L. & Kosztyán, Zsolt T., 2025. "How to create dynamic capabilities: A design science study," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    11. Piotr Wróblewski & Mariusz Niekurzak, 2022. "Assessment of the Possibility of Using Various Types of Renewable Energy Sources Installations in Single-Family Buildings as Part of Saving Final Energy Consumption in Polish Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    12. Bozena Gajdzik, 2021. "Transformation from Steelworks 3.0 to Steelworks 4.0: Key Technologies of Industry 4.0 and their Usefulness for Polish Steelworks in Direct Research," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3 - Part ), pages 61-71.
    13. Li, Chengming & Huo, Peng & Wang, Zeyu & Zhang, Weiguang & Liang, Feiyan & Mardani, Abbas, 2023. "Digitalization generates equality? Enterprises’ digital transformation, financing constraints, and labor share in China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    14. Anna Kwiotkowska & Radosław Wolniak & Bożena Gajdzik & Magdalena Gębczyńska, 2022. "Configurational Paths of Leadership Competency Shortages and 4.0 Leadership Effectiveness: An fs/QCA Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, February.
    15. Bożena Gajdzik & Radosław Wolniak & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2025. "Structural Drivers of Poland’s Renewable Energy Transition (2010–2023): Empirical Insights from Regression and Cluster Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-26, September.
    16. Kuen-Suan Chen & Tsun-Hung Huang & Chun-Min Yu & Hui-E Lee, 2024. "Fuzzy Evaluation Model for Operational Performance of Air Cleaning Equipment," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-12, August.
    17. Hui Zhang & Huiying Ding & Jianying Xiao, 2023. "How Organizational Agility Promotes Digital Transformation: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-13, July.
    18. Fernandes, Kiran Jude & Milewski, Simon & Chaudhuri, Atanu & Xiong, Yu, 2022. "Contextualising the role of external partnerships to innovate the core and enabling processes of an organisation: A resource and knowledge-based view," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 146-162.
    19. Stefano Magistretti & Daniel Trabucchi, 2025. "Agile-as-a-tool and agile-as-a-culture: a comprehensive review of agile approaches adopting contingency and configuration theories," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 223-253, January.
    20. Denicolai, Stefano & Previtali, Pietro, 2023. "Innovation strategy and digital transformation execution in healthcare: The role of the general manager," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:8:p:1981-:d:1633349. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.