Optimizing production processes with AI

By Sven Rottner

The production of tools and components for automotive suppliers is sometimes time-consuming and costly. The requirements are sometimes very customer-specific. In addition, there are quality deficiencies caused by wear and tear on tools. The MetaLearn research project team from ESB Business School is seeking to counter these problems with artificial intelligence (AI). In two international companies, AI algorithms that support decision-making in production processes are to be investigated and tested. The project is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research.

The aim of MetaLearn is to increase product quality and reduce startup and setup times in the manufacture of customer-specific, low-volume products, with the help of artificial intelligence. Setup times and avoidable quality defects in particular have a significant impact on production costs and manufacturing time. The AI algorithms developed and tested in the project are intended to influence these factors favourably.

Professor Günter Bitsch, head of the project at ESB Business School, points out that the interdependencies of individual production processes have so far been insufficiently researched. “By using artificial intelligence, we hope to achieve a real improvement in this area,” he said, “For example, tool wear could be detected earlier through image recognition. This would have a positive effect on product quality.”

Specifically, the project is conducting research in the areas of special tool and transmission production. With J. M. Voith SE & Co. KG and Paul Horn GmbH, the research team is working with two internationally-active companies that are characterized by very customer-specific requirements.

The optimal production parameters determined by AI are being tested in the two companies for technological acceptance, feasibility, and time and cost advantages. The knowledge gained is to be transferred to other areas of the company in the future. Tailor-made support for the implementation of AI solutions is provided by Layer7 AI GmbH and the Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI).

The project is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research as part of its “Learning Production Technology - Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Production (ProLern)” scheme. The ministry is providing targeted support for projects that increase the performance of manufacturing technology machines and equipment via AI.