Method of controlling the rolling efficiency in hot rolling

A method of continuous hot rolling which comprises the steps of arranging slabs on a mill line for passage through a heating furnace, passing the slabs into the heating furnace, heating the slabs in the heating furnace, extracting the slabs from the heating furnace, and passing the slabs through a finish mill, wherein the method further comprises the steps of determining a rolling schedule and a conveying schedule on the mill line for the slabs arranged in succession based on an aimed extraction temperature of the slabs from the heating furnace and a predetermined temperature at an exit of the finish mill, calculating a first minimum extraction pitch for the slabs from the heating furnace under restrictions imposed on a mill line side, calculating a second minimum extraction pitch for slabs from the heating furnace under restrictions imposed on a heating furnace side based on slab temperature charged to the heating furnace and the aimed extraction temperature, determining an optimum extraction pitch for the slabs from the heating furnace to maximize the overall rolling efficiency by comparing both of said minimum extraction pitches, and controlling said hot rolling method in accordance with the optimum extraction pitch determination step.