This paper introduces the Steel Cold Rolling Ontology (SCRO) to model and capture domain knowledge of cold rolling processes and activities within a steel plant. A case study is set up that uses real-world cold rolling data sets to validate the performance and functionality of SCRO. This includes using the Ontop framework to deploy virtual knowledge graphs for data access, data integration, data querying, and condition-based maintenance purposes. SCRO is evaluated using OOPS!, the ontology pitfall detection system, and feedback from domain experts from Tata Steel.

This paper proposes a human-in-the-loop framework that integrates machine learning models with semantic technologies to aid decision making in the domain of steelmaking. To achieve this, we convert a random forest (RF) into rules in a Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) format and represent real-world data as a knowledge graph in a Resource Description Framework (RDF) format, capturing the meta-data as part of the model. A rule engine is deployed that applies logical inference on the knowledge graph, resulting in a semantically enriched classification. This new classification is combined with external domain-expert knowledge to provide improved, knowledge-guided assistance for the human-in-the-loop system. A case study in the steel manufacturing domain is introduced, where this application is used for real-world predictive analytic purposes.