The automobile industry is ushering into an era that sees conventional manufacturing processes being replaced by smart and connected processes driven by data. With the advent of electric cars, automated manufacturing processes, and international supply chain, it is important for companies to have smarter ways of improving visibility, efficiency, and making decisions.
This is how Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) is shaping the future of modern automobile manufacturing.
AIoT is the combination of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. Factories have an opportunity to receive data in real time, conduct analyses on production processes, and boost their performance. As far as the process of manufacturing goes, it can be said that AIoT enables manufacturers to create a better production ecosystem.
One of the most difficult tasks in automotive manufacturing is to maintain full visibility throughout the whole production process. The factory operates with thousands of moving parts per day. These parts include items, automobiles, machines, people, and inventory among others. The absence of real time data could lead to some problems during manufacturing.
Advanced solutions of the modern AIoT era offer the following capabilities to manufacturers:
• Real-time asset tracking
• Workforce visibility intelligence
• Smart inventory management
• Monitoring of the production process
• Predictive analysis
• Monitoring of the connected equipment
• Data collection automation
• Optimization of manufacturing workflows
RTLS (real-time location systems), RFID, industrial IoT sensors, edge computing, and AI analytics technologies create the connected world where all the manufacturing activities can be tracked and optimized.
AIoT is particularly beneficial for automotive OEM plants since vehicle manufacturing consists of a number of interconnected procedures such as body assembly, painting, final assembly, manufacturing of batteries for electric cars, logistics, and finished vehicles management. AIoT helps manage these processes as it creates a single picture of the production performance.
Traceability is another great benefit of using AI. Manufacturers need precise data about vehicles themselves, their parts, production procedures, and quality control processes. With the help of AI-based tracking systems, it becomes easier to monitor the whole production process.
Smart factory concept implies more than just automation. It implies creating intelligent manufacturing environment in which humans, machinery, and digital technologies work efficiently together.
However, smart factories do not mean solely automation. They imply creation of intelligent manufacturing environment that involves cooperation of people, machinery, and digital systems. The AIoT technologies provide safety in the workplace, efficient planning of resources and quicker reaction to the difficulties that occur during production.
There is another application area of AIoT technology — automotive OEM plants, as the manufacturing process of cars includes many stages, such as body shop, paint shop, final assembly, production of batteries for electric cars, logistics and finished car management. AIoT technology manages all these processes because it provides a single view of the performance of production process.
Traceability is another great advantage of using AI. Car manufacturers require information about the car itself, its parts, production process and process of its quality control. With the help of AI tracing system, monitoring the whole process becomes easier.
Smart factory concept does not imply just automation. It implies creation of intelligent manufacturing environment in which people, machinery, and digital technologies cooperate.
