The Role of AI and ML in Revolutionising Manufacturing

AI is transforming manufacturing, enhancing productivity and precision across areas like predictive maintenance and assembly line optimisation. This article delves into AI's revolutionary role in shaping smart manufacturing.

- Bharath B Bommai

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every industry globally, spanning from healthcare, agriculture, food processing and self-driving cars to everyday use cases for humans. With all sectors adopting digital transformation, AI has gained momentum in the manufacturing industry. AI in manufacturing refers to the deployment of Machine Learning (ML) solutions and Deep Learning (DL) neural networks to automate complicated operations and uncover previously unknown patterns to optimise manufacturing processes through better data analysis and decision-making. Today, major manufacturers are utilising these novel technologies to improve efficiency, accuracy, and production across multiple processes.

The Advent of Smart Manufacturing

The "Smart Manufacturing" revolution brought about new opportunities for manufacturers to achieve their goals of higher productivity, cost optimisation and superior product quality with great success. At the core of this disruptive wave is the power of industrial AI and ML technologies. With data emerging as a significant asset in today's digital age, the cost of obtaining and keeping it has decreased substantially. Manufacturers across sectors are using the potential of this data to revolutionise operations and raise profits, driven by AI and ML's extraordinary capabilities. According to MarketsAndMarkets, the use of AI in the manufacturing industry is expected to reach USD 20.8 billion by 2028, owing to the introduction of highly beneficial Generative AI. By embracing these modern technologies, firms may improve production efficiency while also addressing the core causes of production losses and related expenses.

Use Cases of AI in the Manufacturing Industry

The integration of AI and ML technologies has helped the industrial sector grow significantly. Following are some of the major AI use cases in the manufacturing industry: