The way Artificial Intelligence serves business and society in this century is similar to the transformation the industrial revolution had created earlier. Before the machines came into existence, every manufacturing process was done by hand. It means the growth of industries was tedious and time-consuming — it required continuous manpower and repetitive tasks to accomplish the business targets.
With the invention of the cotton gin (cotton engine) by Eli Whitney, the cleaning process of cotton lint scaled up. This is how the hours of labor could be completed in minutes effortlessly for the first time. AI can do everything that ranges from observing and acting upon trends, adopting wise decisions on how to manage particular situations, and predicting or solving the concerns beforehand, or when they arise.
Let’s understand the role of Artificial Intelligence and AI skills in the manufacturing industry and the trends that bolster the use of AI in manufacturing processes.
Manufacturers use AI in various business processes to automate and enhance their operations with its updated technology. A popular example of this technology is the use of predictive maintenance. This preventive care adopts a strategy that utilizes inspections and repairs to keep the system highly durable.
Remote maintenance strategies have also taken a significant role, where the manufacturers integrate the devices to initiate data collection on the machines when they run. This can help in equipment monitoring in real-time for factors like time, temperature, vibration, pressure, etc. If any parameter moves beyond the secure operating range, the system automatically alerts the technicians and lets them schedule inspection or maintenance.
Predictive maintenance utilizes real-time data to predict the equipment malfunctions prior with the help of an AI algorithm, fed on the past operating information. This further builds the subtle patterns in the system's performance to decide when to schedule the maintenance.
As per the PwC report, with predictive maintenance in manufacturing, you can scale up time and costs by 9% and 12% respectively. Additionally, you can avoid the possible risks to health, quality, or safety by 14%.
Autonomous robots are the other technologies that use machine vision to help industries navigate complicated and changing environments– it allows machines to ‘see through.' The AI algorithm can repeatedly analyze the data from video cameras that are mounted on the robot, to break the visual information into obstacles, floor space, co-workers, etc.
Huge companies like Amazon use autonomous robots to support warehouse workers with tasks like picking or packing orders. The companies are also in their efforts to expand the operational efficiency through automated drones like technology for air delivery, movement of goods past warehouses, etc.
Let us now look into the role of AI adoption in manufacturing processes for a plethora of industries:
Automation Solutions:
AI and robots are used in industrial manufacturing since they transform mass production. Robots can perform recurring tasks, eradicate human error, building automation systems, and help improve the competence of models.
Production round the clock:
Humans used to work continuously for shifts to ensure streamlined production, whereas, in the modern AI-led manufacturing process, robots can work round the clock in the production line. This helps businesses meet the huge demand of customers globally.
Secure Operations:
The operations in the manufacturing plant involve errors when it involves more human resources and tedious manual jobs. When robots assist humans and involve in the automation of risky manufacturing processes, workplace accidents can also decrease to a great extent.
Innovative Opportunities for Humans:
With the advent of AI in the manufacturing processes, workers get time to focus more on innovative tasks. When AI considers unskilled labor, humans get time to focus on taking their business to advanced stages and driving innovation.
Low operating Costs:
Through leveraging business processes with AI involving a massive capital investment initially, the ROI can be incredibly high. Since intelligent machines can nurture everyday business activity, businesses can enjoy the benefit of reduced operating costs.
Facilitate product development:
AI is great at understanding and translating natural language, and this will make it easy for the employees and managers to communicate with the software. For instance, software users usually prefer to search for things instead of navigating a complicated menu. With AI, you can understand the user’s preferences and give better outputs with fewer errors.
It is expected that AI technologies will see a surge in production by 40% and more by 2035. Artificial Intelligence will impact the manufacturing segment in many ways in the future, let’s look at the most noticeable technologies that can revolutionize the industry the most.
Computer visualization has been used for a long time to identify product defects in real-time, however since manufacturing involves the use of more data than that integrated ever, AI with computer vision is the advanced technology that can rationalize the information. A worker should be capable of acquiring the raw materials and let the stock transaction automatically be created, as the camera observes the procedure.
Another breakthrough would be the impact of IoT, i.e. Internet of Things– a process of delivering services to customers who would not comprehend that it is required. Nevertheless, IoT can also send detailed telemetry back to the distributors and producers to analyze the factors that drive the respective failures. IoT is a powerful tool AI can use to augment the design processes, where you can reimagine the products for evolution.
Let’s take the case of Ascalia, who worked with Sainsbury to get a solution for the ready-to-eat foods that aid in microbial control, with the help of advanced cameras and AI. Singular Intelligence has also emerged to collaborate with supermarkets to utilize AI-specific decision-making for predictive shelf-life systems. The system also envisions centralized and automated control systems to streamline the monitoring process.
AI is a valuable tool that can help manufacturers extract insights from a massive pool of datasets, enhance predictive algorithms, and equip them with advanced robotics innovations. Businesses are in search of candidates with more AI skills and competencies to trigger their manufacturing processes with high-end technologies.
The professionals with AI certifications from reputed institutes are highly in demand since the role of AI in the manufacturing sector is booming. If you are planning to evolve as an AI expert and work with promising industries, then Artificial Intelligence certifications can help reach your destination safely.
