Manufacturing
Break the 75% OEE barrier with embedded and edge intelligence. Reaching true operational excellence in manufacturing requires achieving new levels of OEE (overall equipment effectiveness). MicroAI puts AI-enabled solutions to work on the OEE problem.
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Overview
Predictive Intelligence – Industry 4.0 to 5.0
The next revolution in manufacturing will involve going beyond factory automation and into factory intelligence…from the automated factory to the predictive factory. Even in a highly automated production environment there exists intelligence gaps, both at the micro (individual asset) level and the macro (asset ecosystem) level. Closing these gaps is the next operational imperative.
Challenges
Manufacturing Intelligence Gaps
The fact that machines and devices are automated does not imply that they are smart. Automation does not equate to intelligence. Current intelligence gaps include:
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Lack of Deep Observability
The absence of endpoint AI embedded and trained at the asset microcontroller (MCU) level restricts the ability to attain asset-specific insights and to develop predictive maintenance models. This creates blind spots within the manufacturing ecosystem.
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Monitoring and Reporting Limitations
Machines and devices do not have the ability to self-monitor or self-report. Critical performance insights go undetected and/or unreported.
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Inefficient Maintenance Procedures
Continued reliance on preventive maintenance processes that are unable to self-adjust based on current real-time conditions of the asset. This creates unnecessary downtimes and poor OEE.
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No Centralized Command and Control
A centralized, AI enabled, command and control center is needed to aggregate, synthesize, and react to the volumes of data generated within the factory floor.
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Inadequate Cyber Security
Manufacturing environments are prime targets for cyber attack due a lack of edge and embedded AI security protocols. Machines, processes, and data are under constant cyber threat.
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Cost of Intelligence
Manufacturers are hesitant to adopt new AI/ML solutions due to concerns about cost, implementation time, and ROI.
The Solution
Enabling Predictive Manufacturing
MicroAI™ provides embedded and edge AI solutions for manufactures to evolve from mechanical automation to predictive intelligence. Breakthrough solutions that bridge the gap between automation and intelligence. The most comprehensive suite of capabilities that includes:
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Asset-Centric Training, Monitoring, and Reporting:
The creation of a centralized factory ecosystem of intelligence that provides customizable performance and health scores.
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Real-time Performance Alerts:
AI that is embedded into the asset endpoint providing deep observability into real-time asset performance.
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Historical Trend Analysis:
The ability to transition from preventive to predictive analysis and to maximize asset output.
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Intelligent workflow integration:
Process automation via workflows that learn and evolve…intelligent workflows at the edge.
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Endpoint cyber-security:
Personalized asset security that provides hardened protection against sophisticated cyber-threats (zero-day, ransomware, etc.).
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Simple integration:
The ability to localize training and inferencing at the edge, without labeling data, allowing for full customization of AI models in a short amount of time.
Benefits
Manufacturing Excellence Redefined
The evolution to the predictive factory will have far-reaching implications. By utilizing MicroAI’s suite of embedded and edge AI product platforms, manufacturers will reach levels of operational performance that had previously been unattainable. Advancements will include:
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Improved OEE
Improvements in OEE performance from the current standard of 70% to a new standard of ~ 85%.
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Holistic Visibility
Non-siloed, at-a-glance, perspective of real-time performance and events across the entire factory floor.
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Improved Resource Allocation
Edge AI-enabled intelligent workflows reduce the reliance on human intervention and ensure optimum execution of processes.
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Increased Production
Predictive maintenance eliminates downtimes related to unnecessary maintenance activities and/or unforeseen malfunctions.
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Enhanced Security
Embedded and edge security algorithms that provide more robust cyber protection and that shorten detection and reaction times (detection in seconds instead of hours/days).
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Longer Asset Lifespans
Real-time asset health monitoring, process-driven mitigation actions, and predictive maintenance capability all combine to extend the lifespan of expensive assets.
Improved OEE – The Consequences
- A 15% improvement in OEE can equate to a 17% increase in productivity. An operation producing $60M worth of products can increase their output to ~ $70M.
- Improved OEE equates directly to a reduction in asset maintenance costs. Unnecessary maintenance is eliminated via the implementation of predictive maintenance.
- Higher OEE scores translate to improved quality of the products being produced. Machine and device performance are more reliable and more predictable.
- Production costs are reduced. This results in improved product pricing as well as healthier bottom lines.