The benefits & practical applications of AI in manufacturing
Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a genuinely transformational technology, impacting manufacturing in many ways. The practical applications of AI in manufacturing offer a range of benefits, including smart automated systems on the shop floor and smart supply chains. These advancements have the potential to make factories more responsive and productive.
The quick adoption of AI in manufacturing and industrial settings signifies its high potential. According to a recent report by Accenture, the manufacturing sector is projected to reap immense fiscal gain from implementing AI. It is estimated that by 2035, the sector could see a staggering gain of $3.8 trillion. [1]
Deloitte's survey on AI in manufacturing reveals a positive sentiment. According to the survey, 93% of companies believe that AI will play a crucial role in driving growth and innovation in the sector. [2]
However, in what areas will AI have the greatest impact?
The use cases are wide and varied and can bring benefits across the manufacturing lifecycle. These include the development of collaborative robots. These robots are able to work alongside humans on the shop floor in a safe and seamless manner. Real-time sensor-based predictive maintenance is another area that is receiving a lot of attention.
Other exciting practical applications of AI include lights-out factories, error detection, and faster product development. It would appear that the potential of AI is limitless.
In theory, this sounds exciting and innovative; but, how is AI actually being implemented in the real world? Which manufacturers are leading the way in practical AI applications?
We’ve highlighted four trailblazers who use AI in different industries. These innovators are making major strides in areas such as quality control and CNC programming. As well as, the acceleration of the clean energy revolution.
The examples below prove that AI in manufacturing is not a technology that will impact the sector sometime in the future, it is affecting the industry at this very moment!
1) Accurate gripping in food and drink plants
The food and drink sector has been an early adopter of AI-inspired automation. It offers a way to ensure consistent and repeatable operations in highly regulated environments. Robotic gripping, in particular, allows the effective transfer of fast-moving items on conveyor belts. However, it must be done carefully and accurately to avoid damaging any of the items on the line.
Soft Robotics - The mGripAI system
The mGripAI system has been designed by Soft Robotics, a company based in the United States. This innovative system combines soft grasping, 3D vision, and AI technology. Its purpose is to delicately pick foods like meat, fruit, vegetables, and bakery items from processing lines without causing any damage. The technology has already proven its ability to handle difficult chicken joints in various food processing environments.
To run split-second inference, the system makes use of NVIDIA technology. To put it another way, it functions as the picking solution's hands, eyes, and brain. As a result, this will help food companies to improve safety and increase production within their facilities.
2) Driving the future of quality control
Audi's practical applications of AI
Audi, the carmaker, has recently introduced an AI system at its Neckarsulm plant. This system has been created to develop the future of quality control of spot welds in car body construction.
Over the course of each shift, this system performs inspections on 1.5 million spot welds across 300 vehicles. The majority of this activity was carried out by hand up until quite recently. In the past, staff checked about 5,000 spot welds per vehicle using ultrasound for random analyses.
This AI technology now allows employees to focus on identifying anomalies, enhancing quality control efficiency and precision. At present time, plans are being made to ready this strategy so it can be carried out at other Volkswagen Group plants. Both the Volkswagen Emden facility and Audi Brussels are included in this category.
The data obtained from the use of AI is being explored for applications in predictive maintenance. These are contributing to Audi's Automotive Initiative 2025 (AI25) for digital factory transformation.
3) Transforming CNC programming
Autodesk's - CAM assist
The precision manufacturing industry has been transformed by CAM Assist, an AI-driven plug-in for Autodesk's Fusion 360. More specifically, it achieves this by automating the process of creating three-axis machining techniques. Developed by CloudNC, it reduces the manual, repetitive aspects of CNC programming, producing toolpath instructions in seconds.
There are reports from users that indicate that CAM Assist is capable of handling 80% of the machining strategy. This not only saves a significant amount of production hours but also enables quick manual adjustments. The benefits include faster CNC programming, accelerated staff upskilling, and improved job estimation and quoting processes. Following its successful early access launch in 2023, CloudNC is enhancing the solution for 4 and 5-axis machining strategies.
4) Supporting the clean energy revolution
Siemens - AI-powered virtual twins
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy uses AI-powered virtual twins to enhance wind farm layouts. As a result, this has led to an increase in production while also lowering operational costs. With thousands of turbines worldwide generating 100 gigawatts of wind power, efficient power production is crucial. This is especially true as the demand for wind power around the globe is predicted to quadruple between 2020 and 2025.
Siemens Gamesa has made major strides in simulating wind farm behaviour by combining physics-informed machine learning and advanced simulation platforms. This allows for accurate predictions, taking into account factors such as wind direction and turbine positioning. This enables precise decision-making on turbine placement and control strategies, ensuring optimal electricity generation and performance forecasting.
In conclusion – The practical applications of AI will be adopted everywhere
The variety of uses of AI in the manufacturing industry is made clear by these examples. And new use cases are emerging almost daily. The practical applications of AI are incredibly useful for analyzing, improving, and optimizing processes to increase efficiency and production. This is crucial for tackling the many frequent difficulties in manufacturing.
The technology helps to prevent costly mistakes and setbacks and facilitates more informed decision-making. Through artificial intelligence implementation, manufacturers can react faster, minimise disruptions and realise new growth opportunities – helping them seize the opportunities of tomorrow.
At EU Automation, we understand the importance of staying ahead of these technological advancements. Our commitment to providing essential and hard-to-find automation components ensures that your production lines remain efficient and resilient. By leveraging our extensive network and industry expertise, we help you navigate the complexities of modern manufacturing, keeping your operations running smoothly and your business competitive.
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