Every coil tells a story. QuinLogic QES® (Quality Execution System) ensures it’s one of excellence. For steel producers under increasing pressure to deliver flawless products while managing complex production chains, the QES® transforms quality management from reactive troubleshooting into proactive problem solving.
What sets the QuinLogic QES® apart is its ability to convert time-based data from melting and casting into length-position data for the finished strip. Additionally, QES® provides a complete end-to-end solution and maintains genealogy across the entire value chain.
From manual checks to intelligent automation
Although the automotive-exposed sector alone generated more than 100 billion euros in 2024 and continued growth is expected through 2030, many producers still rely on manual quality checks and fragmented data systems that miss critical insights. QuinLogic QES® shifts this paradigm entirely. By creating a comprehensive digital twin for every coil – from liquid steel to finished product – the system captures and analyzes quality data across the entire production route. This unified data landscape enables something previously impossible: in-line, automated quality decisions based on a full production history.
The increasing quality demands across industries and market sectors are driving the adoption of quality execution systems. “Modern steel production demands perfection,” explains Tim Gehrken, Managing Director of QuinLogic, SMS group’s specialized brand for quality management software. “Class A surfaces and immaculate products become standard requirements from end customers. The pressure for flawless quality has never been greater.” In combination with inline surface inspection systems, QuinLogic QES® detects scratches, holes, dimensional irregularities, and waviness early – reducing scrap and avoiding claims.
Another key advantage of QuinLogic QES® is its ability to quickly gain insights into rolling and coating process parameters using advanced analytics and machine learning to ensure downstream surface quality. Other tasks like planning and scheduling can also profit from advanced quality data across the production chain.
Finally, QES® helps address the shortage of skilled labor. Digitalizing expert knowledge accelerates employee onboarding and preserves critical know-how within the company. Rule-based quality management systems such as QES help prevent errors and derive corrective actions, further stabilizing production and quality outcomes. “We’re not replacing human expertise, we’re amplifying it,” explains Tim Gehrken, “our customers tell us that our QES transforms their most experienced quality managers into strategic assets. Instead of spending hours on routine checks, they focus on continuous improvement and solving complex quality challenges.”
Built for reality, designed for the future
Manual and fragmented quality management leads to significant manual effort and missed opportunities for process improvement. Tim Gehrken: “That’s why we want to motivate customers to question existing practices. To achieve this, we typically start discussing individual quality challenges to discover how the landscape of QES® modules enables tackling them.” The guiding principle is “help for self-help”: QuinLogic QES® is a toolbox that enables customers to capture and operationalize their own know-how – rather than a plug-and-play black box. This is supported by comprehensive training offerings to fully enable customers to make the most out of QES®.
Experience shows that the more intensively a customer uses the software, the more mission-critical it becomes for their operations. This makes close, ongoing collaboration essential – not only for successful deployment but also for continuous product development and enhancement.
Operational improvements are equally important. Moving toward web-based components and customizable and role-based dashboarding functionality simplifies administration and user access. Adapting to new database formats and modern data interfaces ensures compatibility with evolving customer infrastructures and reduces integration effort.
We’re not replacing human expertise – we’re amplifying it.
Partnership for sustainable performance
“We recognize that every production environment is unique,” says Tim Gehrken. “That’s why our QES® adapts to diverse IT landscapes – from high-level enterprise software to automation solutions of the equipment. The system’s modular architecture means you invest only in the capabilities you need today, with the flexibility to expand as requirements evolve.”
QuinLogic QES® represents more than software. By combining advanced data integration across the value chain with unique quality assurance capabilities, the system helps producers achieve sustainable competitive advantages in quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
The results speak for themselves: reduced customer claims, optimized production processes, streamlined workflows, and significantly lower manual effort in quality management. For steel producers navigating the challenges of modern manufacturing, QES® provides the intelligence needed to excel.