How Artificial Intelligence is enhancing the manufacturing of tomorrow

Wie Künstliche Intelligenz die Produktionsarbeit der Zukunft verbessert, zeigen Expertinnen und Experten vom Future Work Lab ihren Gästen beim »International Open Lab Day« am 16. April 2021. © Fraunhofer IAO/Foto: Ludmilla Parsyak / At the “International Open Lab Day” on April 16, 2021, guests will have the opportunity to learn all about the benefits offered by Artificial Intelligence. © Fraunhofer IAO/Photo: Ludmilla Parsyak

In the manufacturing of tomorrow, autonomous systems will support humans with data-driven analyses and smart solution patterns during value-generating tasks. At the “International Open Lab Day” on April 16, 2021, guests will have the opportunity to learn all about the benefits offered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) from experts at the two Stuttgart-based Fraunhofer institutes IPA and IAO.

In future, AI will be able to detect optimization potential, make assembly work easier and create staffing schedules: These are just a handful of examples of how AI can contribute to ensuring more resilient and more flexible production processes. However, this does not mean that humans will simply become subservient to algorithms, but shall instead continue to direct processes, working efficiently in an adaptive environment without having to take on so many control tasks. “Digital technologies help to design more human-centric production processes. At the Future Work Lab, we showcase the potential of cognitive assistance systems and participative implementation methods for use in production systems”, comments Simon Schumacher, Project Lead of the Future Work Lab at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA.

Together with his colleagues from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, the researcher has built more than 50 demonstrators at the Future Work Lab covering the entire spectrum of future industrial working environments. From 9 a.m. (CEST) on April 16, 2021, the two institutes are inviting guests to take part in the virtual International Open Lab Day. For this, the research team will be leading guests live through the exhibition, with a particular focus on a selection of innovative AI demos:

- AI for process optimization:
A portable, flexible data collection tool automatically uncovers optimization potential in production processes. To enable this, a modular sensor system is combined with AI-based algorithms for process recognition.

- AI for assembly:
Object recognition services powered by Augmented Reality goggles are increasingly being used in assembly processes to support workers. For this, the relevant software needs to be trained with a large volume of high-quality data. Thanks to AI, this training is automated.

- AI for staff planning:
A flexible personnel deployment plan enables short-term shift adjustments, integrates time buffers for crisis or boom phases and offers employees attractive working hours. AI supports the development of customized planning schedules.

- Trustworthy AI:
In cases where people are affected by decisions taken by AI, it is important to ensure that the internal decision-making process is easily traceable and comprehensible. This level of transparency can help to improve the acceptance of AI.