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This article is part of an ongoing series called Machine Learning for Manufacturers, which focuses on the uses for artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing. It began with our article introducing machine learning and AI, and continues to spell out the many ways that AI solutions are relevant to manufacturing and supply chain operations. 

What is Meant by “Real-Time Monitoring”? 

Real-time monitoring involves tracking the changes in a company’s operations as they actually occur. 

The alternative—long-popular before the advent of artificial intelligence technologies made real-time monitoring an actual option for business owners—is to make a note of changes at chosen intervals. 

When the monitoring of operations is mostly left to humans, the space between those intervals grows long. For example, many businesses’ inventory-taking process involves having a manager, maybe two employees, take a pen and notepad and guesstimate how many items were sold in a day, and how many items ought to be bought. 

Such a method is an easy recipe for under- or overstocking. Even more, this method likely extends to many other aspects of the business, such as checking or maintaining equipment performance. 

For Many Manufacturers, Real Time is the Only Time

In an industry like manufacturing, there are so many people, machines, and items to keep track of, that management can be a major headache. 

Luckily, advances in artificial intelligence have virtually eliminated the need for managers to “make the rounds” at chosen intervals. 

Instead, AI systems have made it possible to track a supply chain’s operations in real time. 

This means that manufacturers can not only see if any person or machine is dipping in performance, but they can find out when that issue occurs. 

Given the scale of many manufacturers’ operations, it is no surprise that so many within the industry have implemented AI-powered real-time monitoring platforms. 

To find out more about how AI helps in real-time monitoring (and how it goes beyond just monitoring, and offers solutions that will improve your supply chain), then read on. 

You Can’t Spell “Supply Chain” without “AI

We mentioned that AI monitors equipment and people in real time, and this is often done through not only analyzing data about equipment’s performance through each completed task, but also through video monitoring within the factory. 

Using computer vision, AI can get a literal picture of your operations through your surveillance cameras, and quickly become familiarized with your unique process. 

Monitoring this video data over time means that you can additionally measure human performance as well as equipment performance. 

With both of these data sets, AI can analyze the relationships between the two, and how employees and equipment impact the performance of the other in your day-to-day operations. 

This is done because one of the major uses of AI is data analysis, finding patterns within data sets and making predictions based on those patterns. 

So, manufacturers will be able to find out which hours are most productive, which equipment runs the best, which employees are the best fit for which positions, and more valuable data that is built off of consistent analysis of your operations, rather than a mere walk down to the floor every so often. 

AI-Powered Data Solutions for Your Company

The ongoing supply chain crisis has made the time- and cost-efficient uses of AI in the manufacturing process even more relevant than ever, so do not hesitate to make the investment in AI, which has saved many manufacturers from going under in these turbulent times. 

To learn more about AI-based solutions, manufacturing-related or not, reach out to Findability Sciences, a leading AI service provider. From predicting customer churn to installing chatbots in your supply chain, you are sure to find what you need at Findability Sciences. 

Keep up with our Artificial Intelligence blog, and also take a look at our AI and Machine Learning services page for solutions that could take your business to the next level of digital marketing. 

And, remember: You can’t spell “supply chain” without “AI”. 

Read other informative articles in our ongoing Machine Learning for Manufacturers series: