Iron and Steel is one of the toughest industries to optimise – high volumes, heavy material costs, and complex cutting operations that directly impact margins.
When we engaged with a steel processing business, their challenge was clear: every millimetre wasted in the cutting process was money lost. Traditional methods of planning layouts were manual, slow and left too much room for error. Inventory management was equally fragmented – raw materials in one silo, work-in-progress in another and finished goods tracked separately, often with delays.
At Ascent, we built a comprehensive nesting algorithm and web system that changed the way they planned and executed cuts. The algorithm intelligently mapped layouts to minimise scrap and maximise usable material. What made it powerful was its seamless integration with Stockflow, our inventory management platform.
The result was a single connected system that tracked every stage of inventory:
- Raw materials – consumption measured precisely against nesting plans
- Work-in-progress – live updates as sheets were cut and processed
- Finished goods – accurate, real-time stock positions for dispatch and sales teams
The impact was immediate: material wastage reduced, inventory accuracy improved dramatically and leadership finally had real visibility across operations.
This is not just software. This is technology acting as the growth engine – turning inefficiency into profitability, and giving manufacturers the foresight to scale with confidence.