D-Wave Hybrid-Quantum Application Cuts BASF Scheduling Time to Five Seconds
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) and BASF have completed a proof-of-concept project to optimize operations at BASF’s liquid-filling plant using a hybrid-quantum computing application.
Project Results
The new application reduced production scheduling time dramatically—from 10 hours with an industrial classical solver to just five seconds. It optimized both task scheduling and liquid tank assignments, resulting in quantifiable efficiency improvements.
- Reduced lateness by 14%
- Decreased setup times by 9%
- Shortened tank unloading durations by up to 18%
Industry Impact
The project showed that hybrid-quantum systems can enable rapid decision-making, a challenge for conventional optimization technologies. This capability may help manufacturers overcome operational and supply-chain bottlenecks.
D-Wave considers the collaboration an important step toward full-scale implementation of hybrid-quantum applications in manufacturing and logistics.
Author’s Summary
D-Wave and BASF proved that hybrid-quantum computing can drastically accelerate complex industrial scheduling tasks, cutting decision time from hours to seconds.