Dow is leveraging generative AI to dramatically improve productivity across its global operations by building a data literate culture and strong technical foundations.
Driving value with gen AI: Dow is implementing gen AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and seeing significant early productivity gains in key areas:
- Over half of pilot users reported saving 1-2 hours per day with Copilot
- Gen AI is being used to enhance content development, data analysis, patent research, and document search
- AI has revolutionized demand forecasting and supply network planning in Dow’s supply chain
Building on AI foundations: Dow’s ability to rapidly adopt and scale gen AI builds on its nearly two decades of work leveraging predictive AI technologies across R&D and manufacturing:
- Digital twins for ethane furnaces are running 70 AI models, enabling early failure prediction and reducing unplanned events by 20%
- Repair times are being improved by at least two days through AI in manufacturing
Enabling technical infrastructure: Dow has put in place the modern, secure technical foundations needed to support enterprise AI initiatives:
- A modern, secure network architecture was implemented in partnership with companies like Cisco and hyperscalers
- An integrated data hub provides the data management and access capabilities required for AI
Fostering a data literate culture: Dow has recognized that building a data literate culture that can appreciate and adopt AI is an even bigger enabler than technology:
- Extensive data literacy training programs have been rolled out for employees and leadership across the company
- A hub-and-spoke model combines centralized IT governance with data scientists embedded in key functions like manufacturing, supply chain and R&D
- Annual data science challenges bring together data scientists from across the enterprise to spur innovation and generate solutions
Broader implications: Dow’s experience highlights how large global companies can drive dramatic productivity gains with gen AI by combining the right technical foundations with a concerted effort to build a data-driven culture. As more organizations race to implement gen AI, those that invest in data literacy and evangelize the technology’s potential across the enterprise will likely see the biggest benefits.
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