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Building a Smart Factory is Possible Using Machine Learning

Bhagyashri Kambale | December 07, 2021 | 741 views
MACHINE-LEARNING-MIN
Machine learning in manufacturing is becoming more widespread, with businesses like GE, Siemens, Intel, Bosch, NVIDIA, and Microsoft all investing heavily in machine learning-based ways to enhance manufacturing.

Machine learning is predicted to expand from $1 billion in 2016 to USD 9 billion by 2022at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44% throughout the forecast period, according to Markets & Markets.

The technology is being utilized to cut labor costs, achieve better transition times, and increase manufacturing speed.

“I advocate business leaders get to know more about what AI can do and then leverage AI in proofs of concept.”

– Michael Walton, Director and Industry Executive, Microsoft speaking with Media 7

Machine learning can help enhance manufacturing processes at the industrial level. This can be achieved by assessing current manufacturing models and identifying flaws and pain factors. Businesses can rapidly address any difficulties to keep the manufacturing pipeline running smoothly.


Let us explore how machine learning is transforming manufacturing operations.

How Machine Learning Is Transforming Manufacturing Operations

“The greatest benefit of machine learning may ultimately be not what the machines learn but what we learn by teaching them.”

- Pedro Domingos

Machine learning in manufacturing is revolutionizing manufacturing operations and making them more advanced and result-oriented, so let's have a look at how this is unfolding.


Allows for Predictive Maintenance

Machine learning provides predictive maintenance by forecasting equipment breakdowns and eliminating wasteful downtime. Manufacturers spend far too much time correcting problems instead of planning upkeep. In addition to enhancing asset dependability and product quality, machine learning systems can forecast equipment breakdown with 92% accuracy. Machine learning and predictive analytics increased overall equipment efficiency from 65% to 85%.


Increases Product Inspection and Quality Control

Machine learning is also utilized for product inspection. Automated inspection and supervision using ML-based computer vision algorithms can discriminate between excellent and bad products. These algorithms simply need excellent samples to train; therefore a fault library is not required. However, an algorithm that compares samples to the most common errors can be built. Machine learning reduces visual quality control costs in manufacturing. Forbe's says AI-powered quality testing can boost detection rates by up to 80%.


Logistics-related Tasks Are Automated

To run a production line, industrial companies need considerable logistics skills. The use of machine learning-based solutions can improve logistics efficiency and save expenses. Manual, time-consuming operations like logistics and production-related documentation cost the average US business $171,340 annually. It saves thousands of manual working hours every year to automate these everyday procedures. Using Deep Mind AI, Google was able to lower its data center cooling bill by 40%.


Creates More Business Opportunities

Machine learning is frequently used in the production process. Substantial data analysis is required to create new items or improve existing products. Collection and analysis of huge amounts of product data can help find hidden defects and new business opportunities. This can help improve existing product designs and provide new revenue streams for the company. With machine learning, companies can reduce product development risks by making smarter decisions with better insights.


Protects Company’s Digital Assets

On-premise and cloud-based machine learning systems require networks, data, and technological platforms to function. Machine learning can help secure these systems and data by restricting access to vital digital platforms and information. Humans’ access sensitive data, choose applications, and connect to it using machine learning. This can help secure digital assets by immediately recognizing irregularities and taking appropriate action.


Harley Davidson's Sales Climbed by 40% Using Albert – The ML & AI-Powered Robot

Today, traditional marketing is harder to break through. It's easy to see why Albert (an AI-powered robot) would be a good fit for Harley Davidson NYC. Thanks to machine learning and artificial intelligence, robots are producing news stories, working in hotels, controlling traffic, and even running McDonald's.

Albert works well with social media and email marketing. It analyzed which customers are more likely to convert and modifies the personal creative copies on its own for the next process.

Harley-Davidson is the only company to employ Albert in its business. The company evaluated customer data to find prior consumers who made purchases and spent more time browsing the website than normal. Albert used this data to categorize customers and scale up test campaigns.

Using Albert, Harley-Davidson's sales climbed by 40% and leads increased 2,930%, with half coming from high-converting ‘lookalikes' detected by AI and machine learning.


Final Words

The groundbreaking benefits of machine learning are the pillars of machine learning applications in manufacturing. Machine learning in manufacturing helps enhance productivity without compromising quality. According to Forbes, Amazon has automated warehouse logistics picking and packing using a machine learning system. With Kiva's help, Amazon's typical ‘click to ship' time dropped from 60-75 minutes to 15 minutes. So, industry leaders are seeing fantastic outcomes, and machine learning in manufacturing is the future.


FAQ


How is machine learning used in manufacturing?

Machine learning is used in manufacturing to improve product quality and uncover new efficiencies. It unquestionably aids in the identification and removal of bottlenecks in the manufacturing process.


Which two forms of machine learning are there?

Machine learning is divided into two forms: supervised and unsupervised. In supervised machine learning, a machine learning algorithm is trained using data that has been labeled. Unsupervised ML has the advantage of working with unlabeled data.


What is a machine learning model?

A machine learning model is a file that can recognize patterns. In order to learn from a set of data, you must first train a model using an algorithm.

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CORE Industrial Partners Portfolio Company Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions Acquires EPMP

CADREX | October 07, 2022

CORE Industrial Partners (“CORE”), a manufacturing, industrial technology, and industrial services-focused private equity firm, announced today the acquisition of E.P.M.P., Ltd. (“EPMP” or the “Company”), a precision sheet metal fabrication services provider, by CORE portfolio company Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions (“Cadrex”). The Cadrex platform was formed in 2021 and includes ten business units with approximately 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space and more than 2,000 employees across ten states as well as Mexico. Founded in 1984, EPMP provides high-volume sheet metal punching, forming, welding and assembly capabilities utilizing a variety of different metals, including aluminum, copper and brass, as well as carbon, galvanized and stainless steel. The Company serves a nationwide customer base in the renewable energy, HVAC, food & beverage, and industrials end markets, among others, through an equipment fleet that includes press brakes, turret punches, fiber lasers, combination laser & punch machines and automated fabrication cells. Headquartered outside San Antonio in Seguin, Texas, EPMP operates an ISO 9001-certified facility with over 50,000 square feet of manufacturing space. “EPMP’s significant historical investments in automation-driving material handling systems and robotics augment Cadrex’s high-volume sheet metal fabrication capabilities and make EPMP a highly strategic fit with the platform.” -Matthew Puglisi, Partner at CORE. Clint Plant, President of EPMP, said, For almost 40 years, EPMP has been committed to manufacturing and service excellence, demonstrating that commitment throughout all aspects of our organization. We recognize and appreciate this same customer-centric orientation at Cadrex and we’re looking forward to collaborating with Cadrex and CORE to continue our strong momentum. ABOUT CORE INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS: CORE Industrial Partners is a private equity firm with $700 million of capital commitments investing in North American lower middle-market manufacturing, industrial technology, and industrial services businesses. CORE’s team is comprised of highly experienced former CEOs and investment professionals with shared beliefs, deep experience, and a demonstrated track record of building market-leading businesses. Through our capital, insight, and operational expertise, CORE partners with management teams and strives to build best-in-class companies. ABOUT CADREX MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS: Cadrex is a leading provider of complex production parts, assemblies, and weldments for a variety of end markets, including information communication technology, aerospace & defense, energy transmission & distribution, food production & agriculture, medical, material handling and electronic gaming & kiosk. With locations in nine states and Mexico, Cadrex offers comprehensive in-house manufacturing capabilities, including laser cutting, sheet metal fabrication, injection molding, electromechanical assembly, CNC punching, CNC machining, robotic welding, stamping, fastener insertion, and tool and die manufacturing, to effectively serve customers with lights-out manufacturing capabilities from low- through high-volume production. ABOUT EPMP: EPMP is a precision sheet metal fabrication services provider for a variety of end markets, including renewable energy, HVAC, food & beverage, and industrials. The Company offers high-volume sheet metal punching, forming, welding and assembly capabilities from an ISO 9001-certified facility outside San Antonio in Seguin, Texas.

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3D PRINTING

Fortify Ships FLUX CORE 3D Printer to IERUS Technologies

Fortify | October 06, 2022

Fortify, provider of advanced composite-photopolymer printers, announced today that IERUS Technologies received a FLUX CORE 3D printer and Flux Developer materials onboarding software for design and engineering of Defense Systems. The 3D printer will be used to realize complex RF (radio frequency) applications. "Placing a printer at the IERUS Technologies headquarters provides a critical resource to support the growing need for additive manufacturing solutions in electromagnetics for Defense, Fortify's printers are uniquely positioned to print low-loss 3D printing materials, enabling performance advantages where traditional manufacturing falls short (due to machining, weight, and size)." -Eric Versluys, Director of Defense Programs at Fortify. IERUS Technologies, a provider of engineering and design solutions for Defense and commercial customers, such as sensors and strategic systems, is designing novel RF structures such as Graded Refractive Index (GRIN) lenses leveraging Fortify's FLUX CORE system. The Flux Core system enables companies like IERUS to take advantage of the design freedoms enabled by RadixTM, a 3D printable low-loss material developed by Rogers Corporation. "The Fortify 3D printer line will enable IERUS Technologies to develop complex RF structures that push the limits of traditional RF architectures with novel electromagnetic phenomenologies." -Jason Keen, CEO of IERUS Technologies This announcement comes a few months after Fortify's strategic investment from In-Q-Tel and the development of a portfolio of electronic 3D printing materials. IERUS will leverage the FLUX Developer toolkit, an open platform for the development of viscous and filled resins, to optimize printing of RF devices. Fortify will be showcasing 3D printed RF structures printed on the FLUX CORE 3D printer at Array 2022 October 11 - 14 in Waltham, MA. About Fortify: Fortify is transforming the 3D printing industry with its patented DCM (Digital Composite Manufacturing) platform. DCM delivers new levels of additively manufactured part performance by introducing functional additives to photopolymers. By combining a deep understanding of material science with high performance mixing, magnetics, and polymer physics, Fortify is able to produce custom microstructures in high-resolution 3D printed parts. The company is currently focused on applications ranging from injection mold tooling to high performance end-use parts with unique mechanical and electromagnetic properties. Founded in 2016 and based in Boston, Fortify4 technology enables material properties and components unattainable using other additive or traditional manufacturing processes.

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