It’s not scalable just yet, but quantum computing is already turning heads because of its ability to exponentially accelerate decision-making in the industrial space. It’s just the latest in an increasingly diverse array of data-driven innovations that are already disrupting the market.
Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information, enabling it to solve complex problems much faster and more efficiently than classical computers with the help of specialized algorithms. IBM, with offices in Baton Rouge, is particularly optimistic about its potential.
“By 2029, or perhaps sooner, we feel we’ll have a scalable modular system that can be used in solving real-world problems,” says Robert Loredo, IBM quantum ambassador worldwide lead in Miami.
Some owners have already begun to test the waters. Teams at IBM and ExxonMobil recently collaborated to model maritime inventory routing on quantum devices, analyzing the strengths and trade-offs of different strategies for vehicle and inventory routing, and laying the foundation for constructing practical solutions for their operations.
As IBM’s quantum hardware scales rapidly—from small prototype systems to more promising larger devices—researchers are excited about the possibility to one day handle previously insoluble routing problems.
“By partnering with IBM Quantum, our aim is to ultimately level up our ability to tackle more complex optimizations,” Dr. Vijay Swarup, senior director of climate strategy and technology at ExxonMobil in Houston, said in a recent announcement. “To solve bigger problems and make bigger differences.”
For ExxonMobil, quantum’s applications will range far beyond the coordination of ships at sea. It could provide new capabilities to simulate chemistry, leading to developments in energy sustainability and efficiency. It could also support discoveries necessary to develop large-scale carbon capture or help identify new catalysts and active materials for low-energy processing.
“Even at this early stage, we’re discovering that quantum computing inspires different ways of thinking that are uniquely suited to its specific powers,” Swarup says. “We know in our bones that there are huge global challenges that we will tackle in the foreseeable future. When quantum computing scales to become utterly disruptive, we’ll be ready.”
Charles Masters, a senior partner for IBM in Baton Rouge, says quantum computing has obvious benefits for Louisiana’s petrochemical complex. He recently discussed the promise of the technology during a keynote speech at the Feb. 20 TEC Next Conference in Baton Rouge.
“When I think of all the businesses here in Louisiana—oil and gas, chemical, manufacturing and logistics —all of those can benefit.
“We’re currently developing the technology, hardware and framework necessary to ensure that everyone’s ready to go with the education, understanding and industry expertise,” he adds. “A lot of our industry clients are getting on board now; they’re building their skills and building their algorithms so that as quantum progresses, they’ll be ready.”
In that vein, Loredo is currently spearheading an effort to develop a pipeline of internal talent at IBM with the necessary skills and expertise in quantum computing and quantum physics, who can, in turn, educate clients about the potential of the innovation. “We’re getting the word out that quantum is not just in a lab anymore,” he says.
Already Disrupting
In the meantime, a host of other new “disruptive innovations”—augmented reality, virtual reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, digital twins and others—are already impacting industrial markets, says Henry Hays, CEO of technology consulting firm DisruptREADY in Baton Rouge.
AI holds the most promise for quickly analyzing and interpreting data, although many companies continue to struggle to find the most efficient way to use the technology. “I tell my clients that they should consider an AI strategy if it has the potential to impact one of three areas—the efficiency of the business, employee productivity or revenue,” Hays says. “When you can begin to check one or more of those boxes, you have a good reason to consider AI.”
In recent months, Louisiana’s industrial owners have begun to take notice.
BASF, Shell and Entergy, for example, are all currently collaborating with LSU AI experts and grad students to map out their own game plans.
“When those big boys belly up to the bar you can tell that innovation is under way,” Hays says. “They’re trying to figure out what the best use cases are for the technology. The students are building them, then they’ll own them once the semester is over.”
There have been some interesting collaborations at the national level as well. Last year, Honeywell and Google Cloud announced a joint effort to connect AI agents with assets, people and processes to accelerate safer, autonomous operations for the industrial sector.
The partnership brings together the multimodality and natural language capabilities of Gemini on Vertex AI—Google Cloud’s AI platform—and the massive data set on Honeywell Forge, a leading Internet of Things platform for industrials.
Honeywell’s customers across the industrial sector will benefit from opportunities to reduce maintenance costs, increase operational productivity and upskill employees.
The first solutions built with Google Cloud AI should be available to Honeywell’s customers sometime this year.
More recently, Google released Gemini 2.0, which has the ability to perform deep reasoning, offering the ability to provide “a more robust analytical answer to a query,” DisruptREADY’s Hays says. Other competing AI models—Grok, Anthropic, Open AI and Meta—seek to do the same thing.
Jonathan Shi, director of LSU’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) says AI and other innovations such as smart manufacturing sensors are being recommended more frequently during his team’s industrial energy assessments.
Since 2016, IAC’s 20- to 30-student teams have helped small- to medium-sized U.S. manufacturers and commercial owners save energy, reduce waste and improve productivity by providing single day, no-cost energy assessments.
Shi says over the years hi-tech tools have become more reliable and less expensive, so many plants now see them as practical ways to improve maintenance processes. IAC operates under a U.S. Department of Energy grant.
“We suggest new technologies to help them improve their production,” he adds. “This is the digital age, so you have to know what you’re doing and measure what you’re doing. You must gather and interpret the data or you’re just wandering in the dark.”
