Application of Data Analytics Methods for Steel Processing: A Look at Steel Compositional Variability

Recycling is one of the primary ways to reduce the impact of industrial scrap on the environment. Scrap metal recycling plays an important role in conservation of energy as it requires less energy to produce steel from scrap than primary ore sources. Apart from economic benefits, recycling has several environmental benefits. It helps in preserving natural resources and reduces the need of extracting metal ore. Re-melting metal scrap also reduces landfills. In our study we are focusing on the iron and steel scrap recycling industry. Data have been collected from government agencies (USGS), non-profit organizations (ISRI, AIST, and SDMI), and other private organizations. These data are being mined and synthesized into a master database that can be used for supply chain research and materials analysis research. The master database contains yearly export and import volume of scrap for different classifications of steel by region and state in the United States. The research goal is to study the market data for steel recycling industry, review registered steel recycling companies, industry standards and certifications required for recycling. We also consider the variability in the composition of steel by their sources to illustrate the trends in terms of volume and type of recycled steel by different regions and states in the U.S. The benefits of using existing data to ask and answer relevant research questions for the steel industry is also demonstrated by this presentation.