Using AI to Redefine Productivity
May 15, 2024 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Plato Systems, a machine perception company spun out of Stanford University, employs AI and video data to analyze and optimize the human component in manufacturing. Initially focused on semiconductors, Plato Systems has expanded into EMS manufacturing. Co-founder and CEO Amin Arbabian, along with product advisor Anders Holden and head of growth Luis Vidal, discuss their approach to changeover optimization and its impact on productivity in the industry. They’ve also included customer Raj Vora in the conversation.
Nolan Johnson: Amin, I want to discuss AI on the manufacturing floor, and I’m particularly intrigued by Plato's focus on changeover. Why don't we start with an overview of your company?
Amin Arbabian: We're fundamentally a machine perception company. If you look at your current changeover process, ask yourself, “What is the changeover? How do you qualify it?” A changeover is a step in the process where the level of interaction between the operator and the machine is critical. It's also a big piece of your total productivity, especially if you have a significant number of changeovers in your operations. It’s where you have multiple steps and sequences that must be done.
Much like a pit stop in a Formula One race, you have to optimize your process. If you want to codify changeovers, start by considering that they're a manifestation of the operator-machine interaction. We’re bringing operator and factory behavior to the table through specific AI detection.
If you think about physical industries worldwide, they're about 30–40% of our global GDP in regards to more than manufacturing and logistics. In the U.S., manufacturing is about $2 trillion—about 10–20% and 2–3% of global GDP. We have this huge part of our economy with 12–13 million employees, yet the productivity levels have been stagnant or declining in the past few years, by 2–3% year-over-year in some sectors. Why is that the case?
We've had digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and so forth, but we haven't increased productivity. In parallel, labor trends show there are huge problems with hiring and turnover in the sector. We have about 13 million employees and more than a half-million openings in manufacturing. It’s a huge gap; this problem will not go away. We need better leverage.
To read the entire article, which appeared in the May 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Global Leader Implements Ucamco's Jayda Software: Revolutionizing Online PCB Procurement
06/12/2024 | UcamcoUcamco proudly announces that a global leader has implemented Ucamco’s groundbreaking Jayda software in its new web shop. This strategic collaboration represents a significant leap forward in redefining the landscape of online PCB procurement, leveraging Jayda's capabilities to streamline and revolutionize the industry.
Gartner Forecasts MENA IT Spending to Grow 5% in 2024
06/12/2024 | Gartner, Inc.IT spending in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is forecast to total $193.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 5.2% from 2023, according to the latest forecast by Gartner, Inc. The annual growth is down from 6.6% growth in 2023.
Northrop Grumman Extends Operations, Sustainment and Support for BACN to 2027
06/07/2024 | Northrop GrummanThe U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a task order for continued Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) operations, sustainment and support through January 2027.
Q1 2024 Global Semiconductor Equipment Billings Edge Down 2% Year-Over-Year
06/05/2024 | SEMIGlobal semiconductor equipment billings contracted 2% year-over-year to US$26.4 billion in the first quarter of 2024, while quarter-over-quarter billings dropped 6% during the same period, SEMI announced today in its Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) Report.
Solaredge Selects Cogiscan to Further the Digital Transformation of Manufacturing Operations
06/04/2024 | CogiscanCogiscan, a leading connectivity and TTC solution provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce that SolarEdge Technologies selected Cogiscan’s comprehensive machine connectivity platform and Track Trace Control (TTC) solution, as part of its ongoing digital transformation initiative for manufacturing operations.