How AI and ML are Revolutionizing Electronics Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm, with every industry across the globe destined to be impacted in some way. Within manufacturing, AI is already being deployed to great effect, and will continue to scale as AI and ML are Revolutionizing Electronics.
So far, we have seen the rise of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), which has not only introduced significant opportunities for manufacturers but also helped with optimizing processes, costs and streamlined operations. These successes are prompting manufacturers to tap into the power of these advanced technologies and reap the benefits.
The applications of AI and ML are Revolutionizing Electronics in particular are more common, with those on the ground using advanced predictions and quality assurance, to waste reduction and more. As these technologies are broadly implemented and continue to evolve, it is crucial that organizations recognize AI as a way to introduce greater efficiencies into existing processes, while also identifying challenges on the factory floor that could be improved in the future.
Challenges vs Benefits for Electronics Manufacturers
Inefficient maintenance and downtime have long been a concern for those working with technology in manufacturing environments. Factory equipment requires frequent maintenance, and without regular monitoring and updates costly repairs and replacements could be needed. Additionally, inadequate visibility into operations makes it difficult to detect abnormalities and predict required maintenance, which can lead to unplanned downtime.
Manufacturers must detect and address product defects and quality issues early in the product lifecycle to meet volume and avoid scrap. Relying solely on human inspection can be lengthy and costly, yet is often necessary to meet quality standards. However, the human eye cannot catch every imperfection in a product going through the production line. This can result in unplanned interruptions later, that cost significant amounts of money, cause delays in output, and are disruptive to customer relationships.
AI and ML can play a vital role in tackling the challenges faced by electronics manufacturers. These advanced manufacturing technologies have quickly become essential tools for optimizing the manufacturing process. For example, manufacturers can deploy AI and ML for predictive maintenance, which detects and alerts manufacturers to potential failures in their factory equipment so that they can be resolved with minimal downtime. AI and ML algorithms also support quality control, and can provide insights into process optimization to make the manufacturing process faster and more efficient.
How AI and ML is Being Used for Visual Inspection
Products that require visual inspection are traditionally inspected by human workers as they travel through the manufacturing line. Yet, as product demands and timeline speeds have increased, it becomes more difficult for the human eye to detect anomalies. Moreover, electronics products have components—such as printed circuit boards (PCBs)—that are highly complex with hundreds, or even thousands of parts that are difficult for the human eye to see.
AI/ML-based defect detection systems are designed to use deep neural networks to detect defects that cannot be seen by conventional visual systems or human inspectors. This streamlines inspection processes, resulting in greater efficiency performance while optimizing factory floor space by making room for other lines and solutions through the elimination of legacy inspection stations.
Inspection staff can receive training in managing new technologies ahead of full adoption, which provides employees with advanced career opportunities and opens up new roles and skill sets within a business.
Lessons Learned from AI and ML Implementation
AI and ML technologies will continue to fundamentally change the manufacturing industry, but will only realize their full potential if manufacturers embrace their adoption across different areas of their businesses.
While doing so demands a substantial investment of time, effort, and resources, as well as upskilling workers to work with new technologies, the window of opportunity to integrate AI into production processes is closing fast—those who have not started are at risk of being left behind.
Of course, there are still challenges ahead, from data readiness—where the quality of an AI/ML model is only as good as the training data—to quantifying the return on investment of AI/ML implementations, which can be tricky. Organizations need to identify the right use cases for the business, find relevant data, process it, and then develop, fine-tune, and eventually deploy models. These steps all take time, but they are vital to reaping the greatest benefits from an investment in AI/ML solutions.
AI is already here and will be a mainstay of the factories of the future. Skillsets are still in short supply, so there is value in implementing it sooner rather than later. Manufacturers today are successfully leveraging AI and ML in their manufacturing processes, and while hurdles remain, advanced technologies are at the forefront of Industry 4.0 and have the power to transform production and operations on every level.
