SMSVC Goals and Objectives

Through the support of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AMTech Planning Grant, CIVS launched the Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium (SMSVC):

• To provide a collaborative environment to exchange ideas and concepts related to process operation, optimization, decarbonization, digital transformation, and other critical research & development areas
• To develop new modeling tools and technologies for the simulation and visualization of industrial processes and procedures which can aid and improve advanced manufacturing

• To provide resources for education, community, and industry outreach
• To provide an experiential learning experience to students
• To continuously develop infrastructures and technologies

Areas of Focus

• Workplace & process safety
• Workforce development
• Energy efficiency
• Environmental impacts
• Reliability and maintenance
• Operational efficiency
• Smart manufacturing
• Raw materials utilization

• The work of the consortium is coordinated and operated by the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) at Purdue University Northwest.
• Dr. Chenn Zhou, director of CIVS, serves as the director of the consortium. CIVS will provide support and staffing for the administration of the consortium.
• The Board of Directors oversees the initiatives and activities of the consortium and sets policies designed to facilitate the consortium’s achievement of its mission and objectives.
• The Advisory Steering Committee provides advice to the consortium director and acts as a sounding board to the director representing the interest of the consortium.
• Interested parties should contact Dr. Chenn Q. Zhou at [email protected] or call +1.219.989.2765. You can find examples of successful simulation and visualization projects under the Research Areas tab.

SMSVC Member Benefits

• Industry-led decision making
• Accelerated innovation
• Value-added solutions
• Direct access to students
• Rapid access to research results
• Collaborative efforts and resources
• Leverage from various funding agencies

Specific Benefits for Suppliers

• Expanded exposure and consideration of your company’s products and technologies
• Real-world research projects benefitting both steel producers and suppliers
• Leverage of CIVS relationships with affiliated industries
• Opportunities to expand and deepen relationships with steel producers

• Work with steel producers and suppliers to improve global competitiveness
• Validation of your new products
• Customized technologies for improved efficiency and optimization
• Utilization of government and national labs resources
• Collaboration with complementary companies for funding leverage

The collaboration between Purdue University Northwest and U. S. Steel, as well as other industry team members, demonstrates the power of partnership in tackling both domestic manufacturing competitiveness and climate change. Through the Integrated Virtual Blast Furnace (IVBF) project supported by DOE, U. S. Steel Gary Works Blast Furnace #14 operations positively impact process optimization and energy efficiency improvements. At the same time, the project highlights the significant potential to reduce CO₂ emissions. DOE is proud to support this important project for the steel industry. We look forward to future collaboration

– U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) representatives Dr. John ‘Nick’ Lalena (R&D Projects Technology Manager) and Kristen McDaniel (Technical Project Officer, Advanced Manufacturing Office)

The SMSVC is a nationwide, industry-led consortium of steel producers, suppliers, and users—including energy suppliers and utility companies—whose purpose is to address major technological issues and barriers related to growth, and to ensure a competitive advantage for American steel manufacturing. The partners in the SMSVC are visionary leaders moving the steel industry of the United States toward a promising future. The consortium includes partners in internationally recognized businesses and organizations in steel production, as well as universities, energy, manufacturing, government, and more. Current members include: ArcelorMittal, Charter Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs, EVRAZ North America, Gerdau, Linde, NiSource, NLMK USA, Nucor, SSAB, Steel Dynamics, Stelco, Tata Steel, and U. S. Steel.

• Do not discuss with other members your own or competitors’ prices, pricing procedures, or anything that might affect prices such as costs, discounts, terms of sale, profit margins, or anticipated wage rates.
• Do not stay at a meeting where any such price talk occurs.
• Do not make public announcements or statements about your own prices or those of competitors at any SMSVC function.
• Do not talk about what individual companies plan to do in particular geographic or product markets or with particular customers.

• Do not disclose to others at meetings or otherwise any competitively sensitive information.
• Do not propose or agree to any action intended to disadvantage or injure another company.
• At any SMSVC meeting, insist on the agenda being followed as closely as possible and minutes kept.
• Please alert SMSVC staff to any inaccuracies in proposed statements to be made by SMSVC, particularly in statements to government officials.