Sumitomo Osaka Cement Begins Full-Scale Operation of ALGO ARTIS Optimization Solution for Cement Shipping Dispatch Planning

ALGO ARTIS Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kentaro Nagata; hereinafter "ALGO ARTIS") is pleased to announce the full-scale operation of its optimization solution "Optium" for Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.'s (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Hironori Morohashi; hereinafter "Sumitomo Osaka Cement") domestic vessel dispatch planning*1 in cement transportation, commencing in March 2026. This system was decided for introduction in March 2025 following the success of a proof-of-concept experiment, and development and operational preparations have since been underway. It is currently being utilized in actual transportation operations, contributing to cost reduction through reduced fuel consumption, as well as a decrease in CO₂ emissions. ALGO ARTIS will continue to improve the system in collaboration with Sumitomo Osaka Cement, contributing to the efficiency of vessel dispatch planning operations in cement transportation and the reduction of environmental impact.

Challenges and Optimization of Vessel Dispatch Planning in Cement Transportation

Vessel dispatch planning in cement transportation requires considering many constraints, such as the loading capacity of each vessel, the number of berths*2 at each port of call, and acceptance conditions at each port. Sumitomo Osaka Cement needs to efficiently dispatch vessels for domestic transportation connecting approximately 50 locations, including factories and service stations, and also needs to respond to sudden events such as weather changes and equipment troubles, making it a highly complex operation. To address these challenges, ALGO ARTIS developed "Optium," a vessel dispatch optimization solution utilizing its proprietary optimization AI (algorithm), specifically for Sumitomo Osaka Cement. For the background and details of this system's development, please refer to the following release:

• March 19, 2025 Announcement Release

The main functions are as follows:

• Automatic formulation of vessel dispatch plans considering complex constraints

  • Generates efficient vessel dispatch plans by simultaneously processing diverse conditions, including vessel movements, loading capacity, berth constraints, orders from other companies, and even sea conditions (such as wave height).

• Communication function to support information sharing among stakeholders

  • Allows stakeholders to grasp the situation in real-time through notification and comment functions during plan changes.

• Intuitive interface designed for practical operation

  • Reduces the burden of plan creation and change management with a UI that visually displays dispatch schedules and berth status.

Effects of full-scale operation
In addition to the cost impact of reducing fuel consumption, it also leads to a reduction in CO₂ emissions, as well as increased efficiency in vessel dispatch planning operations and smoother information sharing among stakeholders. Keywords: Vessel dispatch planning, Energy, Sumitomo Osaka Cement, Planning DX, AI, DX, Planning optimization, Domestic vessel, Algo Artis, ALGO ARTIS