Artificial intelligence, coupled with machine learning, promises to improve plant operations from sensor level to the enterprise, but adoption has been slow with some overzealous starts.
Phrases such as “artificial intelligence” and “machine learning” are dominating headlines – and boardroom discussions – but what do they really mean? And more importantly, what can they do for food and beverage manufacturers?
Today’s artificial intelligence-based software visibly improves the operation of packaging and production systems, yet operates quietly behind the scenes.
Like a 15th century expression, “Children should be seen but not heard,” artificial intelligence (AI) is typically an embedded software technology that operates quietly behind the scenes keeping a production or packaging system running smoothly—and is silent unless something goes out of control and is not easily corrected. Then, the system sounds an alarm, possibly shutting down the process until the problem—which AI has already identified—is remedied by humans.
Good data—and lots of it—is key to making artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) production, inspection and packaging systems work without a hitch, plus well written algorithms to analyze the data and make decisions that will help people and machines function more intelligently.
Technology companies are employing AI/ML techniques to deter nefarious actors, but users still need to exercise common sense in defending their industrial control systems.