Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing: Hype or Help?

While the current chatbot technology of ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and the other AI platforms that are making news are certainly impressive with their ability to take plain language inputs and reply with intelligent responses (most of the time), forms of AI-like behavior have been around for some time. Consider tools like spell and grammar checkers, social media algorithms that monitor your online activities to serve personalized content, smart appliances and thermostats, security systems, smartphone assistants like Siri or Alexa, formula checkers in Excel, and so on. And while you aren’t having a conversation with these tools, they act as helpers for a range of specific tasks in your professional and personal life. 

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) tools vastly differ in scope and ability from the single or limited-task “smart” devices that have become so ubiquitous. AGI tools are designed to mimic human intelligence in that they can take verbal or written questions addressing a wide range of disciplines and, in most cases, come back with very credible results that are often indistinguishable from a response from a human expert. These tools can be helpful in composing written content, writing computer code, diagnosing medical conditions, solving complex math problems, and much more. The rate of “learning” by these systems is happening at an ever-increasing pace, so much so that we find ourselves wondering, “Where will it end?”

AI’s Place in Manufacturing 

So, how does this play into the world of manufacturing? Our industry has had CNC programmable tools for decades, which can perform repetitive tasks with great accuracy and repeatability. Similarly, ERP systems have been around for just as long, providing management tools for the entire range of accounting and operational aspects of complex manufacturing businesses. It’s safe to say that it would be difficult (if not impossible) to run a manufacturing business without these tools. While AI in the form of AGI tools has not yet made big inroads, it’s not hard to see where they could. Here are some areas that we may see AI take hold in the near future:

For general office: 

• – Automating repetitive clerical tasks like order entry or AR and AP entry
• – Natural language, written or verbal, data retrieval, and complex data analysis studies without the need for manual taskwork

For the shop floor: 

• – Scheduling and downtime management by analyzing shop floor data on a real-time basis and adapting and/or predicting changes
• – More accurate and “smart” visual systems provide manufacturing controls and quality assurance through real-time measurement of data and physical objects

For sales and estimating:

• – Using AI tools to recognize patterns and provide cost calculations based on geometric inputs
• – Scanning and “reading” engineering documents and drawings to extract relevant data, driving estimating and engineering efforts 
• – Analyzing customer patterns to better predict sales and estimate outcomes

And so much more!

The Benefits of AI Adoption

The adoption of AI in manufacturing offers the potential for numerous value-add benefits for all parties.

For manufacturers, AI offers the potential for greater accuracy and improved efficiency. Here at Nu-Way Industries, our more accurate estimating and scheduling allow us to better predict outcomes and leverage this time to perform as many value-added activities as possible, producing greater output and better results for our customers. 

As we look to the future, it’s clear that AI is not just a passing trend but a fundamental shift in how our industry will operate and evolve. We believe that manufacturers that embrace these tools will improve accuracy across all operations, reduce the burden of data entry and repetitive management tasks, and continuously discover new opportunities for efficiency in their operations.

Conversely, manufacturers that fail to adopt AI could risk being left behind as the industry evolves.

Partner with Nu-Way Industries for Forward-Thinking Contract Manufacturing Services

We expect AI to be truly transformative in the manufacturing sector in the next year, decade, and beyond. From improved ERP systems to advanced quality assurance, AI will touch every stage of production.

At Nu-Way, we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible with AI. We’re eager to continue to take advantage of creative ways to use AI to support the talented professionals and advanced machinery that make up our team and shop. By continuing to embrace AI, we’re not just improving our own processes – we’re paving the way for a more efficient, accurate, and innovative manufacturing industry as a whole.

Request a quote to experience the benefits of one-stop services powered by Manufacturing 4.0.