In this chapter we present some results of the first European research project dealing with the utilisation of Big Data ideas and concepts in the Steel Industry. In the first part, it motivates the definition of a multi-scale data representation over multiple production stages. This data model is capable to synchronize high-resolution (HR) measuring data gathered along the whole flat steel production chain. In the second part, a realization of this concept as a three-tier software architecture including a web-service for a standardized data access is described and some implementation details are given. Finally, two industrial demonstration applications are presented in detail to explain the full potential of this concept and to prove that it is operationally applicable. In the first application, we realized an instant interactive data visualisation enabling the in-coil aggregation of millions of quality and process measures within seconds. In the second application, we used the simple and fast HR data access to realize a refined cause-and-effect analysis.

A new big-data handling paradigm for quality monitoring and improvement in the flat steel production is presented based on the efficient exploitation of high resolution (HR) measuring data. Based on a multi-scale data representation over multiple production stages this new concept provides simple and fast HR data access. Realized as a three-tier software architecture including a web-service for a standardized data access the potential of this new concept could be remarkably proven within two industrial pilot applications. This includes an application for data visualisation that enables the in-coil aggregation of millions of quality and process measures within seconds and an application for advanced cause-and-effect analysis based on HR data.

Progressive digitalization is changing the game of many industrial sectors. Focus-ing on product quality the main profitability driver of this so-called Industry 4.0 will be the horizontal integration of information over the complete supply chain. Therefore, the European RFCS project 'Quality4.0' aims in developing an adap-tive platform, which releases decisions on product quality and provides tailored information of high reliability that can be individually exchanged with customers. In this context Machine Learning will be used to detect outliers in the quality data. This paper discusses the intermediate project results and the concepts developed so far for this horizontal integration of quality information.