At present, a new round of global technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating. New technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and industrial Internet are rapidly integrating with manufacturing, promoting the industrial system to leap from informatization to digitalization, intelligence, digital intelligence and wisdom. The non-ferrous metals industry is a pillar industry of the national economy. Its digital and intelligent transformation not only concerns its own high-quality development but also serves as an important path for traditional industries to transform and upgrade and achieve high-quality development. It is of great significance for developing new quality productivity in the non-ferrous metals industry and building a modern industrial system.
Digital and intelligent transformation
Inject new impetus into the development of the industry
In recent years, the digital transformation of the non-ferrous metals industry has received strong support from relevant state departments. In 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and eight other departments jointly issued the "Work Plan for Digital Transformation of the Raw Materials Industry (2024-2026)", which proposed that by 2026, the non-ferrous metals industry should initially establish a technologically advanced, systematic, safe and efficient digital transformation ecosystem. In 2025, the industry standard "Maturity Assessment of Digital Transformation in the Nonferrous Metals Industry" approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology provided a "measure" for the industry's transformation. Driven by policy guidance and industrial demands, in recent years, the non-ferrous metals industry has been actively exploring the path of digital and intelligent transformation, achieving a number of replicable and scalable results in aspects such as mining, smelting and processing, and enterprise management, thus forming a development trend characterized by technological leadership, scenario breakthroughs, and ecological synergy. There are specifically the following five aspects of characteristics.
Mining sector: Promote efficient mining and green production. Digital and intelligent technologies have revolutionized the traditional mining model, achieving multiple improvements in safety, efficiency and environmental protection. Several large-scale mining enterprises, including China Minmetals, China National Gold Group, Jinchuan Group, Shandong Gold, and Jiangxi Copper, have deployed "5G+ Internet of Things" systems to achieve autonomous driving of mining trucks and real-time monitoring of equipment status. This has significantly enhanced mining efficiency and notably reduced the rate of safety accidents. The intelligent underground metal mine mining and excavation technology solutions provided by multiple design institutes and technical service providers such as China ENFI, China Ruilin, China Minmetals Group, and Dandong Measurement and Control enable remote control or autonomous operation on the ground for mining, crushing and other operations. The number of underground workers in the rock drilling and ore extraction processes is reduced by more than 50%, and the number of underground workers in the rail transportation process is reduced by more than 90%. It has significantly reduced the safety risks underground, improved the working environment for practitioners, enhanced production efficiency, and lowered production costs. Combined with the environmental protection system to control pollutant emissions, it has verified the role of digitalization and intelligence in resolving the contradiction between "development and protection", providing technical support for the green, low-carbon, intelligent, safe, efficient and sustainable development of deep mineral resources in China.
Smelting stage: Promote process optimization and energy efficiency improvement. As a core link, the digitalization and intelligence of the smelting process have continuously improved the precision of process control and energy efficiency. On December 26, 2024, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and China Aluminum Corporation jointly held a press conference to officially introduce the first large artificial intelligence model in the nonferrous metals industry - "Kun 'an" to the outside world. Zunyi Aluminum Industry and Yunnan Aluminum Industry were the first to apply large models in the field of electrolytic aluminum. By using AI algorithms to adjust the parameters of electrolytic cells in real time, they achieved good economic results. Meanwhile, many smelting enterprises in the non-ferrous metals industry have been integrating full-process data through industrial Internet platforms, significantly enhancing production efficiency and reducing energy consumption. They have transformed the "experience of experienced masters" into "algorithmic models", achieving precise production control. Enterprises such as China ENFI, China Ruilin, Chalco Digital, Shenyang Aluminum and Magnesium Research Institute, Guiyang Aluminum and Magnesium Research Institute, and Huawei have contributed to technological innovation, efficiency improvement, energy conservation and emission reduction, as well as digital and intelligent transformation in the non-ferrous metals metallurgy field from multiple dimensions including technology research and development, platform construction, and digital engineering design, becoming important engines driving the high-quality development of the non-ferrous metals industry.
Processing stage: Promote lean production and flexible manufacturing. By penetrating all production factors through data, optimizing resource allocation through algorithms, and solidifying lean rules through systems, digital intelligence technology upgrades traditional experience-based lean to data-driven intelligent lean. By eliminating waste and optimizing processes, it achieves quality improvement, cost reduction, and efficiency enhancement, promoting the transformation of the processing link from extensive large-scale production to refined value-based production. The intelligent and visualized factory of Baoti Group's wide-width hot-rolling production line has achieved real-time monitoring and precise scheduling of the production process through the deep integration of equipment Internet of Things and MES systems. The catalyst production line of Yunnan Precious Metals Group has realized personalized and flexible digital manufacturing of catalysts for vehicle exhaust purification.
Management level: Promote "data sharing + collaborative efficiency". Digitalization and intelligence break down "information silos" and promote the upgrading of management models. The integrated ERP system enables real-time linkage of production, sales and financial data, and improves the order response speed. The industrial Internet platform integrates supply chain data, increases the inventory turnover rate of raw materials, and reduces supply chain costs. The smart factory, through full traceability of production data, continuously improves the yield rate and significantly enhances the competitiveness of its products. Kingdee and Yonyou have achieved efficient collaboration among all links of research, production, supply and sales in non-ferrous metal processing enterprises through diversified products and solutions on the basis of data sharing, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and management level of the enterprises.
Application ecosystem: It has facilitated a shift from "going it alone" to "coordinated advancement". Over the years, due to the wide variety of types, processes and non-standard equipment, non-ferrous metal enterprises have been "fighting alone" in their digital and intelligent transformation, resulting in severe fragmentation and poor technological adaptability. What is particularly prominent is that the digital and intelligent technologies adopted by different enterprises vary greatly, and the compatibility among enterprises is poor. The industry has promoted efficient collaboration among similar links in the industrial chain and among enterprises in the same or similar industries through the cooperation and coordinated advancement of key service providers and enterprises, accelerating the pace of digital and intelligent transformation in the industry. The industrial chain and supply chain management systems built by enterprises such as Baiyin Group and Ganfeng Lithium have increased the on-time delivery rate of procurement by over 35%, reduced enterprise management expenses by 21.7%, driven the digital transformation of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, and also provided a demonstration scenario for digital transformation for similar enterprises in the industry.
Meanwhile, the industry has accelerated the construction of an application ecosystem. The Digital Transformation Promotion Center, led by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, is dedicated to building a support system that includes "standard setting - consultation and diagnosis - technology promotion - AI empowerment - talent cultivation", providing the industry with "methodologies" and "resource pools" to facilitate the accelerated digital transformation of the nonferrous metals industry.
The difficulties and challenges faced in digital and intelligent transformation
The characteristics of the non-ferrous metals industry, such as a wide variety of products, complex resources and high complexity of production processes, are accompanied by challenges such as insufficient technology adaptation, data governance, collaboration and talent shortage. We should have a clear understanding and solve these problems systematically.
Insufficient technical adaptability leads to increased costs for customized demands. The production environment of non-ferrous metals is complex, such as high humidity and dust in mines, high temperature, high magnetic field and strong corrosion in smelting workshops. General intelligent equipment is difficult to adapt to, and customized development is required. The process flows and parameters of sub-varieties such as aluminum, copper, lead-zinc and rare earths vary greatly, and digital and intelligent solutions are difficult to be universal, which leads to constant "repetitive construction". Some key parameters in the "black box" links of core processes are difficult to monitor in real time, which affects the accuracy of AI models. Therefore, enterprises and technology service providers need to deeply collaborate to develop "industry-customized" solutions.
Data governance lags behind, and the "information silos" restrict the release of value. The contradiction between data security and intercommunication and sharing among enterprises is prominent, and there are ideological concerns about cross-enterprise and cross-regional collaboration. Within enterprises, there are numerous systems and scattered data, making it difficult for production, procurement and sales data to be shared. In some old enterprises, the aging of sensors and errors in manual data entry lead to uneven data quality, which affects the model iteration. To make enterprise industry data a core production factor, it is urgent to establish a unified industry data standard and sharing mechanism.
Insufficient industrial chain collaboration and the absence of standards affect overall efficiency. The digital and intelligent development levels of the upstream and downstream of the industry's industrial chain are uneven, unbalanced and insufficient. The informatization foundation of some upstream mines is weak, while the intelligence level of downstream deep processing enterprises is relatively high, resulting in insufficient digital and intelligent mutual coordination among the supply chains. In addition, the industry lacks unified technical standards, and the compatibility of systems among enterprises is poor. Due to the poor data connection between the intelligent production scheduling system and the upstream, the order delivery cycle is prolonged. Promoting the coordinated transformation of the industrial chain is one of the key tasks for the future.
The bottlenecks in investment and talent have become prominent, and the impetus for transformation needs to be enhanced. The initial investment in digital and intelligent systems is large, and the payback period is long, which is difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to bear. In addition, some enterprises "emphasize hardware but neglect operation", resulting in idle equipment and slow returns. Many enterprises lack compound talents who are proficient in both color processing techniques and digital intelligence technologies, and front-line employees have a low acceptance of intelligent devices. It requires the joint efforts of enterprises, associations and the government to solve the problem.
Promote the in-depth and solid implementation of digital and intelligent transformation
In light of the current actual situation and work challenges of the digital and intelligent transformation in the nonferrous metals industry, and in combination with national policy guidance and industry demands, it is suggested to promote from five aspects: standard guidance, technological breakthroughs, ecological cultivation, classified policies, and talent support.
Strengthen standard guidance and build a "coordinate system" for transformation. Standards are the cornerstone of transformation. It is necessary to accelerate the implementation of standards such as "Maturity Assessment of Digital Transformation in the Nonferrous Metals Industry" and "Classification and Grading of Industrial Data", and provide a "transformation navigation map". It is necessary to develop scenario-based standards for specific fields such as copper, aluminum, lead-zinc and rare earths (such as energy efficiency optimization standards for electrolytic aluminum and intelligent control standards for rare earth extraction), so that enterprises' transformation can be carried out in an orderly manner. It is necessary to establish a "digital Intelligence Solution evaluation system" to guide enterprises in choosing suitable technologies and avoid blind investment.
Break through key technologies and make up for the "bottleneck" shortcomings. Focus on the pain points of the industry and intensify efforts to break through core technologies. Support domestic substitution in the field of industrial software, promote independent software, and increase the domestic production rate of R&D and design software. Develop special sensors and robots that are resistant to high temperatures and corrosion in the field of intelligent equipment to adapt to special production environments. In the field of AI large models, enterprises are encouraged to collaborate with universities and research institutions to develop industry large models for optimizing smelting processes and quality inspection, promote the experience of Zunyi Aluminum Industry, and form a pattern where "one enterprise's innovation benefits the entire industry".
Cultivate a transformation ecosystem and activate "synergy". Build an ecosystem featuring "government guidance, association facilitation, enterprise leadership, and service provider participation". The association is accelerating the construction of a digital transformation service resource pool and providing "menu-style" services. Give full play to the role of the digital transformation promotion center in the non-ferrous metals industry, promote data sharing and technological collaboration throughout the industrial chain, and establish a full-chain data interconnection platform covering "mining - smelting - processing" in the non-ferrous metals industry. We should draw on the experience of the Yangtze River Delta to enhance the response speed of regional supply chains and achieve "collective transformation".
Adhere to classified measures and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Adhere to the tailor-made measures for digital and intelligent transformation. Large enterprises should actively build "lighthouse factories" and explore cutting-edge intelligent technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises should actively develop "lightweight" solutions, such as energy consumption control, equipment maintenance and other "quick and easy" projects, to lower the threshold for transformation. Resource-based enterprises should focus on safety control and digitalization of green production. Processing enterprises should focus on customized production and supply chain collaboration, and ensure that their transformation is "fruitful and effective" through "tailor-made" approaches.
Strengthen talent cultivation and consolidate "intellectual support". Implement the "Digital Talent Cultivation Program" and cultivate compound talents through "school-enterprise cooperation" and "mentor-apprentice pairing". Carry out the selection of "Digital Craftsmen" to encourage front-line employees to learn intelligent skills; Establish an industry expert database, provide technical consultation and training, and cultivate over ten thousand key talents in digital intelligence annually, gradually solving the "talent shortage".
Digital and intelligent transformation is the inevitable path for the high-quality development of the non-ferrous metals industry, but it cannot be achieved overnight. The entire industry should reach a consensus and work in concert to empower the high-quality development of the non-ferrous metals industry with digitalization and intelligence, and contribute more to building a strong non-ferrous metals industrial country!
