Generative AI (GenAI), built upon large language models, has democratized artificial intelligence and made it accessible to manufacturers of all types and sizes. Yet it’s important to understand how it differs from the types of AI that have been discussed and deployed by only the largest of manufacturers.
Quality control: This is a one of the most promising areas where GenAI can make significant strides. GenAI can be trained on vast datasets where it learns to identify product defects and anomalies along with potential issues in real time. This proactive approach to quality control minimizes defects, reduces waste, and ensures that only high-quality products reach the market.
GenAI is transforming manufacturing by streamlining design, optimizing production, improving quality, and enabling safer and more responsive manufacturing environments. As the new year continues to unfold, we can expect to see more manufacturers embracing it and building it into their tech stacks, enabling a whole new level of intelligence to support human ingenuity.
While GenAI will play a major role in helping companies leverage the vast amounts of data available internally and across the world, as a nascent technology, it has obstacles to overcome. There’s currently no way to confirm the accuracy of artifacts that GenAI produces, nor a way to verify that it’s presenting unbiased data. Additionally, there are fears that GenAI’s ability to create simulated imagery or mass communication could enable those with sinister intent to spread false information, or worse.
Product design: One significant application of GenAI in manufacturing is product design. Designing complex products often involves numerous iterations and prototyping. GenAI can analyze vast amounts of data, taking into account constraints and objectives to create optimal designs. This not only accelerates the design process but also results in more efficient and realistic products, saving materials and reducing costs.
Troubleshooting: Manufacturing processes often encounter unexpected issues that can disrupt production. Factory workers on the plant floor may be experts in their roles on the production line and understand the workings of key equipment, yet struggle to embrace technology. GenAI allows them to simply speak their request into a model and instantly receive feedback in the form of voice or text, whichever they prefer. This can expedite the troubleshooting process, reduce downtime, and minimize the impact on production schedules.
Production: GenAI can be used for better production planning, optimizing schedules, resource allocation, and workflow. By considering factors such as machine capacity, raw material availability, and workforce, it can assist with the development of optimal production plans that minimize downtime and maximize output.
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However, the ubiquity and easy access to open source (and free) GenAI models in 2024, such as ChatGPT or Google Bard, will enable manufacturers to become more familiar and comfortable with AI without a significant financial investment or massive disruption. GenAI will become the conduit to AI-driven manufacturing operations, helping manufacturers to imagine the possibilities that machine intelligence can provide. But it all starts with an understanding of what exactly GenAI is.
Understanding GenAI
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Generative AI took the world by storm in 2023, from the classroom to the film studio, and the writer’s bench to the White House. Enterprises and creative industries worked to figure out how to leverage it in their operations, while classrooms and government entities struggled to govern its use.
AI, in the traditional sense (if such a nascent technology can be called traditional), has involved intelligent ’bots roaming the warehouse and performing routine tasks. It also has involved predictive analytics, which leverages data to forecast future events, or machine learning systems that automatically detect product defects on the assembly line. Although these types of AI are being deployed by a minority of manufacturers, they’re still in their infancy and require massive disruption of how manufacturers operate.
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Consider the following ways GenAI will be used by manufacturers.
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Quality Digest