Manufacturing Magazine November 2020 | Page 64

AI AUTOMATION

“ We are in the middle of a digital transformation , upskilling the entire workforce , developing and using innovative technologies to deliver value for our clients ”

— Mark Hermans , Managing Director , PwC
64 plus ” capabilities require environmental data from the shop floor such as temperature , vibration or images in combination with external sources like social media , traffic or news reports .
Companies can harness all that data from various sources and use custom apps to address key challenges and constraints in operations . For example , an app can check if production lines are operating at rate . An app can identify where a particular forklift is . An app can identify if a CNC machine is about to fail and needs maintenance . An app can identify bottlenecks . This library of apps enables supply chain and plant operators to improve quality , reduce shortages and improve the overall agility of their operations leveraging existing “ base ” technology infrastructure .
How has automation and machine learning transformed manufacturing and supply chains ?
Automation is changing the clock speed of manufacturing and supply chains . Everything is becoming faster and more autonomous : transactions , analyses , alerts and decisions . It is also enabling things that were never
NOVEMBER 2020