"The UK has a tremendous platform to capitalise on these new, disruptive technologies,” says Chakravorti. “AI has huge potential to revolutionise manufacturing in areas such as predictive maintenance, quality control and faster, more reliable designs.”
However, she warns that the industrial take-up of AI is being impeded by a number of key factors.
"These include lack of leadership knowledge and awareness, lack of support for start-ups and a lack of clarity on the return on investment. Developing an AI strategy with clearly defined financial and effectiveness goals, finding individuals with the appropriate skill sets, clear ownership and strategic commitment to AI on the part of leaders, are some of the ways forward to ensure AI is deployed beneficially. The potential is enormous."
The MTC, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and supported by Innovate UK, will be hosting an event in February 2020 to help business leaders, decision makers, entrepreneurs and engineers understand the benefits that AI can bring to a manufacturing business. ‘Artificial Intelligence for Manufacturing 2020’ will be held on 12 February.
Chakravorti says: "AI has been around since the 1950s, but the availability of ultra-high-speed computing and widespread connectivity is giving us the chance to make huge advances, which will improve quality and productivity, along with manufacturing accuracy and repeatability. The blend of industry, technology businesses and academia provides major opportunities for the UK to be positioned as a world leader in the industrial application of AI."
