Quantum computing systems provider D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE: QBTS) and chemical company BASF announced on Wednesday that the companies have completed a joint proof-of-concept project demonstrating a hybrid-quantum application that dramatically improved production scheduling at a BASF liquid-filling facility. The solution reduced scheduling time from 10 hours using a classical solver to just five seconds.

The hybrid-quantum application optimised workflow by minimising product changeover setup times, reducing tank offloading durations, and decreasing overall tardiness of products. In real-world testing, it lowered lateness by 14%, setup times by 9%, and tank unloading times by up to 18%, outperforming existing classical optimisation methods.

BASF's liquid-filling facility handles complex operations across multiple products, where minor delays can disrupt schedules and increase costs. The proof-of-concept highlights how hybrid-quantum technology can address such operational challenges, offering faster and more efficient decision-making for scheduling, resource allocation, and supply chain optimisation. The company generated EUR65.3bn in sales in 2024 and operates across Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions and Nutrition & Care segments.

D-Wave, the world's first commercial supplier of quantum computers, delivers both annealing and gate-model systems and supports over 100 organisations in optimisation, AI and advanced computational challenges.