To utilize AI in a manufacturing (“AI4M”) environment it is necessary to first understand the potential benefits - which vary from company to company. By exploring these benefits manufacturers will quickly see for themselves where, how and why to apply AI not only to the front and back ends of their data operations - but also throughout their manufacturing process.
This week, we spoke with Robert Ziner, MBA, the Founder & CEO of Advanced Bio-Material Technologies Corporation, who has over 30 years working in #AI and advanced #manufacturing technologies pertaining to natural fibers. His most current project has been the development of an AI-driven "Smart Factory", designed to integrate digital systems - now known as Industry 4.0 or IIoT - to optimize the processing of natural fibers and automatically produce low cost, high-quality bio-composite plastic pellets. This week we dive into Robert’s ventures and his perspectives on how to best adopt AI for manufacturing.
An Entrepreneurial Innovator:
In the mid 1990’s Robert was working with John Ziner Lumber Limited ("JZL")– a family business in the secondary processing and distribution of wood products and building materials. Having learned about advanced manufacturing technologies in the late 1980s, he partnered as Integrated Wood Research Inc. (IWR) with General Electric’s Factory Automation Group to jointly develop, patent and globally market a specialized AI-enabled manufacturing operation designed to reduce production costs in half, and double operating margins. In 1996, Robert built a new facility at JZL to help grow the business: From $37M in 1997, to $240M by 2001
It is worth noting that before he had pursued this “advanced” technology-focused approach to improving his operations, Robert had implemented computerized MIS as far back as 1974 and introduced PC technologies in 1985. He learned to use systems and data to get a clearer picture of his overall operations and how to generate and use data intelligence to better understand where opportunities existed – both in the overall operating process and the resulting economics.
In 2016, Robert founded Canadian Industrial Hemp Corporation (“CIHC”), an R&D company focused on developing an AI-driven “Smart Factory” application for hemp stalk processing and optimization: "The Smart Stalk System". His mission was to create a low-cost, high-quality provider of hemp fiber-based finished secondary products. In this application, he was able to utilize his understanding of AI to create and patent the world's first – and only - automated natural fiber quality control system. Mr. Ziner's latest commercial venture, Advanced Bio-Material Technologies, is introducing the Smart Stalk System into the supply chain of natural fiber plastic production ("bio-composites") by utilizing his patented technology to transform agricultural waste into high performance plastics - while achieving flexible, low-cost and scalable production.
The experience of developing these 2 significant real-world applications, has provided Mr. Ziner with a deep practical understanding and appreciation of the benefits associated with applying intelligent automation to a variety of data and operational processes. He strongly believes that AI4M will inevitably redefine all processing and production!
“One of the beauties and the strength of AI is its ability to process multiple systems in real time: Whereas people think that AI systems operate extremely fast - which they do - what most individuals don’t appreciate is that it in fact enables the processing of data up to 10,000 times faster by using its unique ability to also integrate the data it captures with additional data from multiple other systems across the network - simultaneously.”
- Robert Ziner
Think Big, Start Small.
Having access to real-time and accurate data allows manufacturers to gain a much deeper understanding of their manufacturing operations, where they can reduce inefficiencies and how to use data synchronization to provide logical technical support. More important, it directs a manufacturer how and where to provide exceptional benefits to their customers. AI4M is not about how to incrementally improve the manufacturing operations; its function is to redefine the overall economics of the value chain.
Regardless of the industry there are tools that facilitate the development process and lower the cost to implementing AI in manufacturing applications. When finding which tool is right for you, a great starting point is connecting with the network of expertise readily available from the AI4M Association: It was created to help you source the appropriate consultants with the right experience and knowledge needed to help you improve your operations, economics and market reach. Being curious and asking a wide range of questions will enable every manufacturer the opportunity to recognize the potential impact of implementing AI in their own processing or production operations. 