With the artificial intelligence in manufacturing industry digitizing a large number of their processes, a constant flow of data is continually bouncing between every computer and machine on your factory floor. However, with all this information going back and forth, issues are bound to occur. Devices will fail, computers will get the wrong data, and products will often be defective if these processes are not regulated.
Realizing the pandemic is an opportunity to grow stronger, manufacturers are doubling down on Industry 4.0 improvements like artificial intelligence (AI) in their production lines. Properly taking in this data, AI can transform your production process, delivering incredible outcomes for your business.
Why Would You Need AI?
While it may seem like a vision of the future, AI has proven to be widely used by many manufacturers worldwide. A study done by MIT estimated that around 60% of manufacturers have already adopted these solutions.
This growing popularity is not a fad, as AI implementation is a natural fit for the artificial intelligence in manufacturing industry due to all the data flowing that constantly needs to be analyzed. While AI was likely to make its way into warehouses at some point, the massive industry disruption due to COVID-19 caused many companies to fast-track these plans.
Making up for the sudden lack of human workers from lockdowns, AI has proven to be very useful in keeping supply chains moving quickly and with surprisingly high-quality control.
How AI Can Help Manufacturers
From an outside point of view, the switch to AI can come off as wildly expensive to implement, as well as cutting out the human aspect. In reality, artificial intelligence in manufacturing can pay for itself within months, complementing human workers with a wide range of benefits like:
Quality Control
Regardless if a man or machine is involved, manufacturing always has required a fine eye for detail, especially when it comes to electronics. Today, thanks to data-driven assembly lines, AI can ensure that every aspect of the line functions accordingly, bringing interconnectedness to your artificial intelligence in manufacturing systems. If there is an issue with an item, AI can alert workers or machines to allow quick and efficient adjustments before too much damage is done.
Workplace Safety
No matter how many measures you put into place, it is nigh impossible for your warehouse to be completely free of danger. With over 3,000 major injuries occurring in the manufacturing industry every year, the introduction of AI can remove the risk of injury by having machines handle the most dangerous operations. Additionally, they can also perform thermal screenings and monitor interactions with employees to ensure your business remains free of COVID-19 and other diseases.
Supply Chain Logistics Optimization
Supply chains are wildly complex nowadays, with thousands of parts going into your products and many locations that contain different items. It is nearly impossible to keep track of everything involved without an AI set up to help see through the chaos. Once set up, AI can handle inventory (how many resistors are required?), optimize production (what conveyor speed can deliver the optimal yield?), and forecast the output your business will need for every moment of the year.
Greater Personalization
As digital commerce has grown in the last few years, customers have become more accustomed to businesses understanding what they want to purchase through personalization. Naturally, with hundreds of customers, it is impossible to remember what each person likes. AI can be the digital commerce solution for you by efficiently processing a large amount of information you take in. From there, it can predict what customers are likely to order based on manufacturing numbers and the time frame they would like to have it by.
Katalyst Can Help You Reach Industry 4.0
Changing your business to fit the times can be a massive undertaking for any manufacturer, especially when it comes to a subject as complex as artificial intelligence. At Katalyst, we have teams experienced in the current and future trends of the manufacturing industry, and will help you every step of the way to upgrade your workspace to modern standards. From offering global contract manufacturing solutions, to our Celero ERP or WMS systems, we can help your business innovate and be prepared for any AI integration in the future
If you have any questions about exactly Katalyst can help you or other services we offer, feel free to contact us today for a free consultation! We also offer free demos for CeleroERP and WMS if you want to see firsthand how they can help your business.
