AI and ML technologies are key enablers of the fourth industrial revolution where vast amounts of data generated on the shop floor are leveraged to enhance manufacturing efficiency, precision, sustainability as well as productivity. One of the key transformative applications within manufacturing is visual inspection which is the foundation for establishing quality, optimizing production processes, and minimizing defects in the products. AI-based visual inspection has gained further traction in the year 2023 and is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry enabling performance-based processing.
According to Market and Markets, the global AI in Computer Vision market is expected to be valued at USD 17.2 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 45.7 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 21.5% from 2023 to 2028.
As we bid farewell to 2023, let us get on to a comprehensive roundup of the key developments and transformations that defined the AI-based visual inspection space in the year.
Increased Adoption of AI for Computer Vision
There was a huge surge in the integration of AI for computer vision across the manufacturing sector in 2023. This improvement was driven by a rise in demand for automation and operational efficiency, thereby boosting AI’s role in the computer vision domain. The development led to a tangible impact on resources and helped save a significant amount of time for manufacturers. Extensively leveraged for product inspection and defect detection, this technology has accelerated the manufacturing processes, contributing significantly to quality control and process optimization. The immediate addressing of production challenges has made the entire manufacturing process more sustainable with labor productivity experiencing a marked improvement, especially in alleviating the burden of monotonous tasks, such as quality inspection, and reducing fatigue among quality inspectors. In this process, algorithms are utilized to facilitate the real-time identification of flaws in products, thereby enhancing the efficacy of quality control measures.
FMCG outpaced the broader industry in quickly embracing this technology
In 2023, while AI-based visual inspection found applications across diverse industry verticals such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, it was in the FMCG vertical that the technology witnessed faster adoption as compared to others. Within the FMCG industry, AI-based visual inspection plays a crucial role in ensuring product safety and quality. These systems play a key role in evaluating the quality of raw materials to identifying defects in finished products. By detecting anomalies in packaging, this technology guarantees that customers receive products adhering to the highest standards of quality and safety.
Automation increasingly augmented human expertise
During the past year, the manufacturing landscape underwent a significant transformation with a noteworthy shift towards automation taking the forefront in AI-based visual inspection.
This development signifies a harmonious collaboration between human expertise and technological advancements, reshaping the quality control process in manufacturing. Automation enabled manufacturing companies to maintain consistency in the quality control processes at a scale that humans were not able to. The level of accuracy in anomaly detection was elevated too. By nurturing this collaboration, the manufacturing sector experienced higher productivity and enhanced business outcomes. This coexistence of human skills and automation provides the appropriate environment for excellence as well as innovation in the AI-based visual inspection domain.
Scaling up by tech deployment across multiple lines and locations
The year 2023 saw a significant shift as manufacturers recognized the potential of using AI-based visual inspection for scaling up. They leveraged the technology on multiple assembly lines and across diverse locations and plants. This ensured a standardized approach to quality control mitigating the risk of variations in the inspection process. It helped in optimizing resources more effectively minimizing the need for manual inspection. Manufacturers also were able to monitor and analyze production processes in real-time where deviations or defects were quickly identified and corrected preventing potential disruptions in the supply chain.
The manufacturing landscape undoubtedly witnessed a paradigm shift with the widespread adoption of AI-based visual inspection systems in the year 2023. This transformation played a crucial role in enhancing quality control, efficiency, overall productivity, and better business outcomes across diverse industries shaping the future of manufacturing.
– Vinodh Venkatesan, Co-founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Jidoka Technologies.