The benefits of using AI in the manufacturing space

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The benefits of using AI in the manufacturing space

13 Sep 2023

Evan Bail

Evan Bail is a is a multimedia journalist from Overland Park, KS. Her passion for writing and media was developed at a young age through film and literature. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. In her free time, you can find her playing tennis, spending time with her family or walking her dog at the dog park.

LAS VEGAS — During a session on the Industry Speaks Stage at Pack Expo Las Vegas, held Sept. 11-13 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Andy Lomasky, senior director at PMMI, explored the different ways manufacturers can use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their businesses.

With AI blazing a trail, companies are navigating ways to incorporate the new technology. Four key benefits of using AI in manufacturing include increased efficiency, personalized products, improved quality control and smart factories.

The power of AI throughout manufacturing can increase efficiency by the ability of robots working continuously without getting fatigued, allowing manufacturers to produce more with the same resources. This can be seen as an opportunity of disruption for AI due to reducing the amount of human error to improve efficiency.

AI also analyzes consumer data to personalize product recommendations, packaging and branding. Acting as a resource and not always the solution, it can assist designers in creating product concepts, 3D models and prototypes.

“You can use it to personalize products, product design, marketing, proof of concepts and even AI image generation to give you new product ideas,” Lomasky said. “I can tell you we have already done that here at PMMI.”

Through AI-powered vision systems, manufacturers can improve quality control by detecting defects and flaws faster, which reduces waste and recalls.

AI produces real-time data analysis, optimizes production processes and minimizes downtime, connecting machines and systems for seamless operations. Creating step-by-step instructions for assembly and inspection processes, AI sets systems to reduce manual documentation.

“You can put the parameters and use optical tools to inspect products coming off the line, and to pull that product when it doesn’t meet specifications,” Lomasky said. “And all this can be automated. It doesn’t require human work, it requires the human to do the programming, input and processing, but AI can do most of the work for you.”

AI can be a useful tool when implemented correctly. Some best practices Lomasky encourages businesses to start with when beginning with AI are to start small with a single use of AI and then gradually expand into other areas of the business. He also recommends training employees, providing training to build employees’ skills to ensure confidence when using AI; creating a governance framework, establishing a clear set of rules and policies for data management, security and ethical considerations; and partnering with expert vendors who have experience in AI to provide guidance and support.

Incorporating AI into a business can be stressful and scary due to the technology being in its infancy. However, with a system in place and the proper steps taken to utilize it, AI can improve manufacturing practices.

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