D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) and BASF, one of the world’s leading chemical companies, have completed a joint proof-of-concept project that used a hybrid-quantum application to optimize manufacturing workflows in a BASF liquid-filling facility. The project demonstrated that D-Wave’s hybrid-quantum technology can set new benchmarks for manufacturing efficiency, addressing complex optimization challenges that classical computing struggles to solve.
According to the results, the hybrid-quantum application reduced production scheduling time from 10 hours to just seconds, a dramatic improvement that allows for real-time decision-making. Additionally, the solution decreased lateness by 14% and setup times by 9%, while shortening tank unloading durations by up to 18%. These improvements translate into significant cost savings and operational efficiency gains for BASF.
“This project showcases how hybrid-quantum computing can help address manufacturing and supply-chain operational bottlenecks and begin delivering measurable value where classical computing falls short,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. “We are thrilled to work with BASF and see these impressive, industry-defining results.”
Ionel Rusu, quantum computing innovation management at BASF, added: “D-Wave’s hybrid quantum technology demonstrated in this proof-of-concept that it has the potential to significantly improve optimization tasks, delivering faster decisions and better outcomes than classical-only solutions.”
The proof-of-concept used D-Wave’s hybrid-quantum solver, which combines quantum and classical computing resources to tackle large-scale optimization problems. This approach allows businesses to benefit from quantum computing’s potential without requiring full quantum hardware adoption. The project focused on a liquid-filling facility, a complex environment with numerous variables such as product changeovers, tank availability, and production schedules.
D-Wave, based in Palo Alto, California, is a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services. The company is the first commercial supplier of quantum computers and the only firm building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers. Its quantum cloud service offers 99.9% availability and uptime, with over 200 million problems submitted to its systems to date.
For BASF, the collaboration marks a step toward integrating advanced computing into its manufacturing processes. The chemical giant, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, operates globally and is increasingly exploring digital technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/4ssj3. For more information on D-Wave, visit www.dwavequantum.com.
