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Select SDGs to find out how we are taking action in support of the UN Substinable Development Goals
One of ICL’s most strategic activities is the ICL Lighthouse Program, aimed at converting ICL plants into smart factories. To do this, ICL has developed a unique strategy which invests in the workers skill development for jobs of the future. This includes providing citizen data scientist certification, training business intelligence developers, augmented reality developers, drone operators, 3D scanning and printing and more. The methodology is based on years of experience and hundreds of Industry 4.0 projects, holds a significant improvements in production performance, higher efficiency in raw material utilization, lower energy consumption, increased production capacity and yield, decreased by-products and improved sustainability.
The methodology consists five pillars:
Drones and autonomous robotics used at ICL sites are equipped with smart sensors that perform inspection routines from above, prevent employees from working in hazardous areas, decrease site traffic and enable quick and accurate execution of operational routines.
This goes hand-in-hand with ICL’s strategy of top-tier safety performance and environmental responsibility. With regards to safety, ICL has fostered a strong safety culture and enhanced awareness, achieving top quartile safety performance scores within our respective industries. As for environmental responsibility, the Company operates with a clear commitment to full environmental compliance and beyond, which also proactively ensures ICL’s Right to Operate.
Drones have become an effective tool in completing tasks that could otherwise be dangerous if undertaken by humans. In a factory setting, in addition to saving time and money, it provides a big-picture perspective of line efficiency. ICL’s factory sites in Israel, in collaboration with ICL’s Operational Innovation Unit, have implemented autonomous drone systems to provide a full range of services at ICL’s Dead Sea and Rotem sites. including: inspecting high voltage networks, monitoring equipment, maintenance inspections in hard to reach and/or dangerous areas, monitoring security systems, improving safety, delivering samples to labs and operating autonomous robots to perform routine field inspections.
ICL’s vision is to use wearable technology combined with VR to help field operators connect to control rooms, provide remote support, use VR for training activities, and enable hands-free technology. Implementation will partly focus on virtual safety training, event simulations, and training employees on correct responses. Wearable technology, combined with virtual reality (VR) capabilities, has created an opportunity to access, and improve the flow of information in operational, maintenance and safety routines.
As part of the Lighthouse Workshop transformation strategy, ICL has begun developing smart workstations that enable the delivery of visual 3D instructions to maintenance teams. This technology enables sharing best practices and improving maintenance quality.
ICL implements big data-based machine learning models to optimize production line performance and identify potential failures. The outcome is safer, efficient, and a more robust process control.
Part of ICL’s IoT solutions for predictive maintenance include an ultrasonic imager that identifies air pressure leaks and electricity disturbances, smart vibration sensors that predict equipment failures and suggest appropriate repair.
Several of ICL’s product and byproduct streams can be used as raw materials for additional products or applications, thus promoting reuse and a circular economy.
ICL uses data mining to expedite the discovery of potential applications and has already enjoyed breakthrough results for new uses of its byproducts. The strategy is to use data mining to analyze a huge number of articles and patents to identify similar raw materials that have the same properties as the by-product and identify additional uses for them.
ICL is implementing Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) methodologies, which promote cross learning, creativity, in-depth analysis and methodological investigation. By combining SIT’s creative thinking techniques with employee’s knowledge, knowhow, and experience, ICL leverages its resources to increase efficiency, enhance problem solving abilities, and create more impactful solutions.
