Artificial Intelligence [AI] and its ultimate powers for the Manufacturing Industry!

Enough and more has been written about the post-pandemic world and this topic will continue to be the cynosure in futuristic times as well. The impact and importance of AI have never been under such close evaluation and implementation as it has been now. There are several ‘sectors’ or ‘industries’ as we typically address considering their interchangeable nature…which are on their path to transformation as we speak now. These unquestionable sectors are – Education, Healthcare, Travel and Tourism, Media and Entertainment, and the quintessential Manufacturing!

The burgeoning and robust manufacturing industry of India contributing 17.4% to India’s GDP has the potential to reach over US$ 1 trillion by 2025. Several media and industry experts have forecasted this for our market considering the kind of measures which been taken over the last few years. The Make in India initiative and the implementation of GST is definitely considered amongst the major drivers. The concept of smart cities which is effortlessly striving to use AI technology in the activities they undertake is also giving an impetus to this. This has become truly a force to reckon with across various aspects of our day to day life...

Manufacturing is an area that there are a lot of connected aspects that immediately comes to the fore to contribute to its success. One such critical aspect is the supply chain. When the pandemic arrived, this aspect was one of the biggest challenges that the organizations faced not only in India but across the world. The impact was felt across all possible areas. This led organizations to find more efficient and effective ways to mitigate risks and develop their resilience to emerge as stronger players.

What is AI and how can it really impact Manufacturing?

Artificial intelligence is a field of Data Science that trains computers to learn from experience, adjust to inputs, and perform tasks of certain cognitive levels. In simpler terms, it uses computer systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. The area in which it can seamlessly handshake with manufacturing are the following:

1.      Managing Production Processes: AI can be instrumental to enhance efficiency in the production area by bringing in automation to tasks that have primarily been manual or repetitive in nature.

2.      Use of Robotics: This is an area that has been in practice for a few years now wherein robots are being used to perform physical tasks connected to assembly, lifting as well as packaging. Usage of industrial robots removes the need for humans to perform routine, manual tasks, enabling workers to focus on more complex operations as well as areas that require deep thinking in terms of bringing in their own innovation or other improvement related aspects. Even FMCG product manufacturers have been using such methods to manage their production led activities at a much larger scale.

3.      Forecasting of Demand: AI-powered systems can contribute significantly in terms of improving production efficiency through accuracy in forecasting and predicting demand. One of the biggest challenges for a manufacturing organization is the prioritization of the product to be produced in appropriate quantities. The usage of Machine Learning [ML] led algorithms can use data to identify meaningful patterns and provide insights that are truly real-time.

4.      Effective and Simplified Supply Chain: There are thousands of hours that organizations have always had to spend on manual processes and routine activities through the usage of human labor. The activities could encompass anything from telephonic calls, generating orders, managing invoices, engaging with the vendors and suppliers, following up on payments, etc. Through the power of AI, all of these processes could be seamlessly aligned leading to speeding up the delivery and also balancing both supply and demand patterns.

5.      Managing Market trends: Using Machine learning and AI effectively, manufacturers are now in a position to identify patterns and market trends which are a lot more robust.

6.      Quality checks: In the past, manufacturing and quality checks were always led and also dependant on a human’s naked eyes. Now, machines with vision are aligned with such powerful cameras, the sensitivity of which is capable to detect even the minutest of defects. The system not only recognizes such defects, but also marks them, and sends automated alerts to the relevant stakeholders.

7.      Predictive Maintenance: With the power of AI, there’s no longer a need to have a record of predictive maintenance. It allows organizations to predict when machines need maintenance with high accuracy, instead of guessing or performing preventive maintenance. Predictive maintenance prevents unplanned downtime by using machine learning.

What is it that the Indian organizations have done which is going to have a ripple effect at a speed much beyond imagination?

• Shortening their overall turnaround time of all the activities
• Human involvement is being effectively put to use where it is most essential
• The power of Automation is helping them to bring in the much required needed change in the organization.
• Deliver products that are error-free with a reduction in costs coupled with enhancement in productivity.
• More organizations have been embracing this concept since the logic of cost optimization is coming into play with technology maturing with time.
• Rapid data-driven decisions are both possible and realistic.
• It is being used to secure remote work processes which emerged as a need amidst this pandemic.
• AI-based analytics platforms and connected solutions are in use across several sectors.
• Its usage is capable of detecting the slightest of anomalies and is instrumental in carrying out real-time tracking and highlight any probable defects in the equipment.

According to industry experts, AI-enabled machine learning will be the path to attain much-needed sustainability in the industry. AI in today’s times stands for amplification to the work being done by humans for so long.  The reality is that nothing truly can be a substitute for human intelligence and its ability to adapt to continued evolution.

It's time to replace ‘Manufacturing’ with ‘Smart Manufacturing’ since this is where the global industry is heading and it's time that India continues to take a fast forward leap in this direction.

On a closing note, Manufacturing has always had a challenge when it comes to managing the bottom-line and enhancing customer service and AI is already leading its flag here!!

What is your experience of AI in your day-to-day routine or basis the work you do or organizations you serve...would be great to learn from your experience!