METALS SOLUTION
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Blending Optimization Software Suite™
(BOSS™)

MSA’s Blending Optimization Software Suite™ (BOSS™) is a powerful blending and analytical solution that reduces raw material expenditures, quantifies the cost of constraints, and assists clients in improving operational efficiencies.

The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) version is accessible via a secure internet portal at an affordable monthly fee—a small investment that yields big returns. With BOSS, you can expect to see significant savings in your raw material costs.

The software suite includes optimization models for single-heat charge, multi-heat/multi-grade campaigns, purchase planning, and alloy additions calculations. The sensitivity analysis feature provides feedback on price points for alternate materials as well as quantifying the costs of various constraints.

BOSS – the name to remember for optimizing your raw material costs.

Benefits

Analytical Tool – Powerful What-if Capability

Allows “what-if” scenarios and provides sensitivity analysis for considering alternate materials and quantifying the cost of constraints.

Powerful Optimization Technology

Utilizes a state-of-the-art third-party mathematical solver and mixed-integer linear programming (MILP).

Secure and Accessible 24/7

SaaS version is hosted in MSA’s Data Center and is accessible via secure web browser. An on-premises server version is also available.

Reduction in Raw Material Costs

Realize cost savings via single-heat and multi-heat/multi-grade blending optimization.

Fits Into Your Existing IT Infrastructure

MSA’s experts can integrate BOSS into your existing systems and devices.

Multi-User Capability

Allows unlimited users from purchasing, corporate, quality, and melt shop/operations.

Features

MSA’s BOSS software is feature-rich, thanks to many years of use and development across a diverse set of metal producers (e.g. steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel), along with industry feedback.

Data Integration

Allows integration with existing IT systems to obtain material inventory, costs, chemistries, and grade information.

Sensitivity Analysis

Provides price points for alternative materials and quantifies the costs of various binding constraints.

Scenario Comparison

Includes tools for powerful comparison and “what-if” analyses.

Multi-Heat Optimization

Leads to additional cost savings by making optimal use of limited inventory across a schedule or lineup.

Purchase Planning

Determines the optimal purchase plan or “buy plan.”

Alloy Additions Calculations

Determines the additions required to a molten bath to produce a given grade of steel.

Elastic Constraints

Enables automatic relaxing of constraints using configurable settings.

Reporting

Provides the reports needed to run your operation, including charge sheet, stocker sheet, inventory, and sensitivity analysis.