How AI Helps Industrial Engineers

Industrial Engineers are an indispensable key to the operations of factory manufacturing. They have specialized expertise in mathematics, physics, and the social sciences. Industrial engineers optimize the design of a production integrated system. The Lean Manufacturing model proposes a system in which Industrial Engineers are essential in the tasks of continuously improving the production line to reduce waste of time, resources, and materials

In this model, Industrial Engineering heavily focuses on researching the many working metrics of the manufacturing line.

In the early 20th century, Federick Winslow Taylor developed what he called time and motion study. This form of study, where a timekeeping device directly and continuously measures a task, developed into what we now call Scientific Management. As the original name describes, there are two complementary aspects of this study. By analyzing the sequences of actions along the production line and the time to complete those sequences (e.g. time quotas), we begin to  model the efficiency of the factory. This analysis will help identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement. 

During the economic boom that preceded World War II, Scientific Management theory became widely accepted and applied into the manufacturing line. From this point on, systematic and scientific methods to the field were further refined. However, our methods of direct measurement still remain relatively unaltered from the times of Taylor. We still use paper, pen, and a stopwatch, to understand the production line. Now we might just have the help of an Excel spreadsheet to manage our data loads. 

AI will help lighten the load for Industrial Engineers

Besides work-time data gathering, Industrial Engineers have to dispatch management personnel, manage equipment and factory facilities, develop production materials, and oversee operation methods. Industrial engineers are spread thin. Statistical data points that Industrial Engineers, on average, only obtain 15 minutes of data every month. This averages to less than 0.1% of the production line. 

AI hopes to lighten IE’s work plate. AI will take over time-consuming and cost inefficient work from the hands of IE. In Industry 4.0, AI takes the lead. Many forward-thinking enterprises are introducing AI in order to:

• Predict defects in design
• Detect accidental defects in production
• Carry out quality assessments
• Help predict product repair time
• Product demand and price forecast
• Inventory management

As an example, let’s look into defect detection. Manufacturers still hire people to detect defects by manually investigating with their eyes and hands. Even with the assistance of AIO instruments, the results are often inaccurate. Spending a lengthy time on an inaccurate process is disappointing for the entire team.  AI can alleviate current grievances with the manual system. Through sensors and cameras, it can detect defects instantaneously and accurately. Lest not forget that AI works 24/7, so its value potential is truly limitless. 

At PowerArena, AI will maximize factory personnel’s value:

Often with new technologies, there is a fear of a takeover. A loss of jobs. However, AI will not be replacing jobs but rather creating new value potentials for current factory personnel. Work will become more productive with the expedited calculative processes of AI. Industrial engineers can use their time more on other valuable tasks. Everybody needs to embrace this new technology. 

We are able to actualize this value potential. At PowerArena, we transform inexpensive, market-available cameras into our AI’s eyes. Our servers generate real time, comprehensive data. Instead of industrial engineers laboriously then coding that data, our AI tech automatically does it for them. 

If you’re interested in PowerArena’s value potential for your company. Contact us here.