AI provides companies with the opportunity and the means to optimize processes, reduce costs and increase their competitiveness.
Expert opinion by Tilo DORN
Traditional mechanical engineering includes, for example, the manufacturing of power transformers, which is one of the most important industries in the world with a long tradition. However, this sector has been confronted with various challenges in recent years. The biggest challenges are certainly the need for higher efficiency as well as the lack of skilled labor. And that is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes into play. AI provides companies with the opportunity and the means to optimize processes, reduce costs and increase their competitiveness.
A combination of artificial intelligence and robotics offers great advantages when it comes to the automation of daily office work routines. It does not only give the employees the necessary freedom to concentrate on more complex tasks but also allows companies to grow faster while increasing their efficiency. Why is that? So-called bots (PC robots enhanced with AI), for instance, automatically transmit profitability data, scan web pages daily and summarize relevant index values in a clear abstract that can be consulted by sales departments worldwide. The bots can feed data into SAP, read and adopt order confirmations, and consequently update data records. As a result, they are also able to fully release production parts lists independently from assignments to staff and departments, which in turn allows the warehouse to receive material requests from a sole source and to plan and assign the material accordingly.
But AI also contributes to an improvement of Quality Assurance and production line optimization processes. Machine learning, for instance, allows for early detection and correction of errors in the manufacturing process. Hence, companies may not only increase the quality of their products but also cut costs at the same time. Ensuring a high level of quality, for example, is achieved by clustering quality notices from user -defined freetext fields. Thanks to this method, coherent notifications can be grouped together, making it easier to assess potential areas of action. This drastically reduces the need for manual labor and contributes to a significantly faster correction of errors.
Furthermore, the use of AI can be extended to other areas of the mechanical engineering industry where it promises exciting potential for increased efficiency and growth. On the one hand, there is the energy sector, like the manufacturing of transformers. And on the other hand, AI helps companies to understand the needs of their customers better. Machine learning models and algorithms allow you to create data analyses and forecasts, which can lead to the launch of new services and products. Through enhanced planning and steering of processes, AI contributes to making supply chains more efficient and more economical while monitoring and improving production and logistics processes. In general, the analysis of large quantities of data allows for the early detection of risks. As a result, companies can take early prevention measures to reduce risks to a minimum or even avoid them.
All in all, the use of artificial intelligence in the traditional mechanical engineering industry provides vast opportunities for companies to achieve increased efficiency, a reduction of costs and sustainable growth. AI has the potential to lift the traditional mechanical engineering industry to the next level and maintain its competitiveness in the future. However, companies must take a considerate approach when implementing artificial intelligence into their business processes. Successful implementation strongly depends on the identification of suitable applications and requires the involvement of experts. Last but not least, companies must ensure they have all the necessary resources to conduct data analyses and implement machine learning.
The use of artificial intelligence in the traditional mechanical engineering industry provides vast opportunities for companies to achieve increased efficiency, a reduction of costs and sustainable growth.
About the author:
Tilo Dorn is the CEO of the Business Unit for Medium Power Transformers at Starkstrom-Geratebau GmbH. Mr. Dorn is an expert in the field of medium power transformers. His knowledge and experience make him an important player in the development of new strategies for the optimization of business processes through the use of AI. Due to his passion and high commitment to innovation and efficiency improvement, he has become an important decision-maker for the integration of artificial intelligence into corporate business processes.