Modern industrial companies are already familiar with how automation can enhance their productivity and lighten their employees’ workload, but artificial intelligence promises to bring these efforts to the next level. AI-powered automation already impacts multiple industrial fields, ranging from robotics to autonomous vehicles to logistics.
1. Supply Chain Management
Technology such as the Internet of Things and robotic process automation is already used to track packages and manage their movement in a warehouse or transportation network, automatically assigning and locating products as needed.
AI can further enhance supply chain management by performing predictive analytics, such as forecasting demand trends or preparing for crisis scenarios. It can also assist in inventory management, preventing unnecessary purchases or redundancies that take up valuable space in the warehouse.
2. Predictive Maintenance
By using AI to monitor a machine’s usage and compare it to the history of similar devices and their breakdown rates, businesses can predict when that machine will need maintenance.
These AI programs can also monitor systems of machines, such as assembly lines, to monitor for early signs of a mechanical breakdown. If the AI detects these warning signs, it can automatically alert employees and shut down the affected machinery to prevent any failures from cascading and causing further damage.
3. Autonomous Vehicles
AI is a critical component of self-driving vehicles, as it lets them navigate roads, detect obstacles, and make real-time decisions by drawing on machine vision data processed by an onboard industrial AI box PC.
AI can pull on vast amounts of information, such as weather conditions, traffic patterns, and historical data to determine optimal routes, reduce fuel consumption, and accelerate delivery times for automated vehicles.
4. Robotics
Many businesses have already implemented autonomous and collaborative robots or “cobots” in their workflows, sparing their human workers from tedious or hazardous assignments. Having AI algorithms control these robots can further enhance their capabilities for everything ranging from order fulfillment to machining.
One strong example of this type of system is Amazon’s Sequoia, a robotic warehouse system that helps employees store and retrieve packages more efficiently. It also helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders by placing packages in areas that reduce their need to reach above their heads or stoop down, leading to better health and safety outcomes.
5. Computer Assisted Design
Many manufacturers use computer-assisted design (CAD) to save time and materials. Virtually simulating a product and its capabilities spares the need for extensive (and expensive) prototype development.
Now, generative AI can be used to automate the development of products via CAD. An AI program can generate multiple prototypes that match these parameters by uploading previous designs and adding parameters such as weight, size, and performance specs.
6. Bill of Materials Creation
One of the most essential parts of developing and manufacturing a product is the bill of materials (BOM), the list of materials, parts, and quantities used to create said product. Any change during the prototyping and development stage means the BOM must also be updated. Still, human error can lead to this not happening, leading to compliance issues later down the line. Adhering to the bill of materials is essential for any original equipment manufacturer.
By using AI to track document updates during the design and certification process, an AI can automatically generate a BOM and alert staff if they deviate from it or need to change it. This can help improve overall compliance and prevent production delays or product recalls.
7. Quality Control
AI automation of quality control often takes the form of using AI to inspect products with machine vision. By training an AI on what a compliant product looks like and connecting it to cameras that inspect each product as it comes off the assembly line, the AI can identify defective products in real-time and prevent them from reaching the market. In turn, this prevents expensive recalls or refunds.
8. Office Tasks
While front- and back-office tasks may not seem like the most pressing for an industrial company, any technology that can automate processes and improve productivity is a welcome innovation. In this sector, AI can automate the handling of routine inquiries via chatbots and virtual assistants, schedule appointments, and provide other forms of basic information to visitors. It can also automate back-office tasks such as payroll processing, employee onboarding, etc.
Embrace AI Automation With Cybernet Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is the next step in automation, giving industrial companies the edge they need to stay competitive. From better recordkeeping to safer operations, there’s virtually nowhere that AI-powered automation can’t make an impact.
Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing if your company is looking for AI computer solutions for its automation needs. We’d be happy to explain how our industrial AI box PCs can enhance your business’s efforts, with several models available and the ability to customize them further for your precise needs.