Week 1 - MBA 6101 - Surfing the Tsunami
Hello,
The introduction and implementation of artificial intelligence
in production opens a new world of opportunities. As one who is involved in manufacturing,
these opportunities excite me. Current processes are very labor intensive
partially due to the complexity of the activities performed to make raw
material into a finished good. It is exciting to think about the possibilities
that robots can offer. Consider this video
of a Tesla production facility in Berlin. Each robotic arm performs a repetitive
task precisely, efficiently, and consistently.
What are the benefits of automation? To quote from Dr.
Kelsey’s book, Surfing
the Tsunami, “This kind of advance in physical manufacturing allowed a
great many more products to be manufactured at a much higher rate” (Kelsey,
2018). Economies of scale come into play, driving down the unit cost of each
product produced. This allows the product to be sold at a lower price point,
expanding access to the product for more people in the market and at a greater
quantity. Like the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th century
that brought about a paradigm shift, automation coupled with artificial intelligence
is revolutionizing manufacturing.
Automation gives greater control over the production
processes, adjusting how fast a conveyor moves to adjusting how fast one of the
robotic arms seen in the Tesla production facility tour installs a car door.
Variation is removed and quality improved by the predictability of the robot.
At the same time, lifting heavy objects or repetitive motions are reduced for
the person in the operation equating to less injuries and a safer work environment.
All accomplished by the combination of technology, yet further refined by the
human mind.
Citations:
Kelsey, T. (2018). Surfing the Tsunami: An Introduction to Artificial
Intelligence and Options for Responding.
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