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The world of the manufacturing floor is far different than public perception. While some manufacturers and plants look only a few degrees removed from the Industrial Revolution and are stuck in the past, many manufacturers run some of the world’s most sophisticated companies that rely on automation and data.
Taking advantage of available technology and consistently seeking new and better ways of doing business is key for manufacturers to avoid being left behind by companies that adapt to these changes more quickly.
One of the most impactful technologies manufacturers are embracing today is artificial intelligence. However, the general public and some business community members greatly misunderstand AI. AI doesn’t mean sentient androids walking on factory floors or technology killing jobs at all costs. Instead, it is a tool many manufacturers use to improve automation.
And because AI applications are still relatively new, many manufacturers still struggle to understand the benefits of AI on factory floors. To help clear things up, here are five ways AI is reinventing manufacturing and helping humans do better jobs.
1. Preventing problems before they happen. When something breaks on a factory floor, it can delay or slow down work and, in rare cases, cause safety issues. AI enables manufacturers to get a close view of how their equipment is running. Predictive analytics, powered by AI, helps manufacturers analyze equipment data to find potential problems before they occur.
In the past, manufacturers needed to schedule inspections and look for problems but often didn’t locate vulnerabilities or issues. Predictive maintenance uses sensor technology to monitor indicators such as temperature, vibration and fluid levels to alert manufacturers about potential problems. Tesla, Honda, Volkswagen and other companies already use predictive analytics on their factory floors.
2. Boosting efficiency with machine learning. Because AI helps manufacturers review massive amounts of data faster and more thoroughly than humans can, AI can quickly highlight supply chain issues, quality problems, inspection oversights and more. These findings help manufacturers plan production effectively and optimize machine usage and production schedules to get the most out of their assembly operations.
3. Assuring quality. With AI, companies can now scan assembly lines using drones or computer vision systems to detect problems in real-time with minimal errors. This means humans can be moved to more valuable jobs and manufacturing quality will be more consistent.
4. Robotics. AI-powered robots are increasingly used on factory floors to assemble goods, pack orders, inspect merchandise and more. They can also tackle dangerous jobs and enter unsafe places rather than exposing to humans such hazards.
5. Helping humans excel. Manufacturing engineers and operators often require institutional knowledge of a company, solid decision-making and the ability to multitask effortlessly. AI assists manufacturing workers by assimilating a company’s maintenance and operations manuals to provide needed information immediately and ensure employees can access the information they need to do their jobs. It can also do this in multiple languages. AI can also help reduce paperwork. If a manufacturer needs to answer a request for proposal (RFP), AI can scour previous responses from the company, collect data and help craft a new RFP, saving precious time.
Simon D. Kim is CEO and founder of Glassdome.
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