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The adoption of AI in Manufacturing is among the trends to watch in the near future. It is expected to increase productivity and address any possible disruption in the production process.
AI-empowered processes have become an integral attribute of the manufacturing sector. While augmented reality devices have been offered a helping hand to those who run the production line, automated systems are boosting facilitate efficiency and product quality in many ways, including reducing unexpected human mistakes.
Quality assurance
One of the practical applications of AI is automated flaw detection. With advanced visual inspection tools and intelligent algorithms, smart machinery can continuously monitor the productivity of the manufacturing lines. At the same time, it can identify any defects or inconsistencies, which may be undetectable to the human eyes. The defective products will be marked, and the alerts will be sent to human workers. That way, the manufacturers can eliminate under-qualified items before distributing them in public.
Predictive maintenance
Maintenance is estimated to be the most extensive implementation for AI applications in the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers could foresee any possible glitch that might happen thanks to the predictive analytical solutions, powered by machine learning algorithms. Besides, several modernized factories even embed Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices in machines to produce better maintenance predictions. As a result, they can avoid unplanned downtime, disrupted workflow, as well as let the staff focus on other value-adding tasks.
Predictive demand and inventory management
A subtle shift in consumers’ demand can bring about major fluctuations in the future. AI and machine learning applications collect and learn customer data from past orders then predict future demand accordingly. This well-managed predictive data could also be the byproduct of inventory monitoring in the factory.
With the help of AI and automation, businesses can optimize the time between demand creation and stock delivery significantly. Thus, manufacturers can prevent inefficient inventory optimization, reduce the risk of material surplus or deficit during the production period.
Customer Management
As manufacturers often serve large-scale clients, they should pay more attention to customer service. Though often overlooked in this particular industry, a successful retention strategy may help gain customer satisfaction and boost businesses’ performance, productivity, and sales. With the help of AI applications analyzing customers’ data, service providers can analyze the patterns in their behaviors, better understand their needs, and quickly resolve them.
Furthermore, chatbots can act as a smart assistant to improve customer experience. They can enable seamless communication between the manufacturers and clients about placing and processing orders. They can also serve as a specialized resource in the operation rooms and on the factory floor.
So far, the contributions of AI-enabled solutions to Manufacturing are evident and undeniably impactful. However, many manufacturers are unwilling to adopt them into their expensive machines and equipment. Any mishap could lead to a cost blowout. Additionally, the return on investment of AI systems and the accuracy of the inspection and maintenance process is still in question. On the other hand, some businesses have not succeeded in implementing AI tools because of the lack of efficient data collection and skillful workforce.
In short, Artificial Intelligence can be effective at improving accuracy, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. Although many AI advancements have been successfully achieved, there is still much work to be done. To make AI a high-return investment, businesses need to determine the integration strategy that fits their model to enhance performance, to harmonizing the collaboration between machine and human element to yield the most optimal outcomes.
