Predict, Prevent, Perform: AI’s Role in Smarter Manufacturing
To remain competitive in today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, manufacturers must embrace innovation that drives both efficiency and resilience. One of the most transformative shifts underway is the move from preventive to predictive maintenance - especially when powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Companies like General Motors have already seen the benefits, using predictive analytics to monitor robotic arms and conveyor systems, reducing downtime by 20% and saving millions annually. Historically, maintenance strategies were either reactive - fixing equipment after failure - or time-based, relying on scheduled inspections. While these approaches have served industries for decades, they often result in unnecessary interventions or unexpected breakdowns. Predictive maintenance changes the game by leveraging historical data, analytics, and IoT sensors to forecast potential failures. For instance, Siemens used AI to detect early wear in turbine blades, allowing timely re...