-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueAdditive Manufacturing
In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
The Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
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
Jabil Expands Cloud-Server Capabilities
05/29/2024 | JabilJabil Inc. announced the latest advancements to its configure-to-order, high-performance server platform, including the J312-S and J322-S models.
Marvell Grows Presence in Vietnam at Accelerated Rate
05/29/2024 | Marvell Technology, Inc.Marvell Technology, Inc., a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, has accelerated the growth of its workforce and presence in Vietnam in the past year since the company announced plans to expand R&D, engineering and design activities in the country.
Intel AI Platforms Accelerate Microsoft Phi-3 GenAI Models
05/27/2024 | Intel CorporationIntel has validated and optimized its AI product portfolio across client, edge and data center for several of Microsoft’s Phi-3 family of open models.
The Big Picture: Quality Front-end Engineering as a Core Differentiator
05/28/2024 | Mehul Davé -- Column: The Big PictureIn the PCB industry, high-quality front-end engineering differentiates the top-notch companies from those struggling to keep their customers satisfied. But what determines good quality? Beginning with careful attention to design specifications, front-end engineers meticulously plan layouts while adhering to industry standards such as IPC guidelines. They employ advanced design software to optimize PCB layouts, focusing on signal integrity, thermal management, and manufacturability.
Nortech Systems Announces New Patent for Active Optical Xtreme for Sophisticated Magnetic Environments
05/24/2024 | Nortech SystemsNortech Systems Incorporated, a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical and electromechanical products serving the medical, aerospace & defense and industrial markets, announced the issuance of a new patent for their groundbreaking Active Optical Xtreme (AOX) technology platform.