At the recent Pack Expo held in Las Vegas, Andy Lomasky, Senior Director of IT for PMMI (the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies), shed light on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing.
Lomasky’s session, titled “Exploring the Power of AI in Manufacturing,” delved into the advantages and challenges of integrating AI into the production process.
Lomasky emphasised that while AI holds immense promise for manufacturers, it’s still in its early stages. He described the current state of AI technology as “pre-crawl,” indicating that there’s much more to explore and refine.
One of the key points he raised was the potential bias in AI outputs. AI tools make assumptions based on the data they’re fed, and sometimes these assumptions can be skewed.
However, the benefits of AI in manufacturing are undeniable. AI can enhance efficiency, personalise products, bolster quality control, and pave the way for smart factories. These factories would be characterised by interconnected machines and systems, real-time data analysis, and optimised production processes.
Lomasky gave an example of how AI can be trained using data from equipment to proactively adjust machinery settings when anomalies are detected.
But with these advantages come challenges. Data privacy is a significant concern, especially in an era where data breaches can have severe repercussions for companies.
Lomasky stressed the importance of ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and continuously monitoring AI outputs for potential errors.
Lomasky’s advice to manufacturers keen on exploring AI? Start small. Instead of diving headfirst into a large-scale AI integration, begin with simple use cases and learn from them. This iterative approach allows for continuous learning and improvement.
