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Understanding artificial intelligence( AI)
Like CBM, AI for maintenance isn’ t a novel concept. Manufacturers have been leveraging AI-powered technologies like computer vision and machine learning for years. But AI is advancing at lightning speed and relying on maintenance software from just a few years ago can cost businesses dearly.
A handful of AI technologies in particular are increasingly showing up on the factory floor. Machine learning excels at parsing vast data sets and detecting patterns and anomalies. Meanwhile, generative AI doesn’ t just analyze data but also generates new outputs. Generative AI leapt into the public conversation with the introduction of consumer-facing chatbots earlier this decade, and enterprise versions of the technology are just as impressive.
The most cutting-edge branch of AI is agentic AI. AI agents can autonomously pursue complex goals, initiate workflows, and leverage other software. AI agents can deliver deeper insights than machine learning and more sophisticated automation than other generative AI tools like chatbots or assistants.
Combining CBM and AI
So how do CBM and AI create a whole greater than the sum of their parts? The factory floor offers a variety of real – not just theoretical – use cases.
Machine learning empowers maintenance teams to analyze all that temperature, vibration, oil, and other CBM data in detail and at scale. As a result, manufacturers can know the condition of every factory pump and motor at any given time – and also know exactly when a technician needs to open their toolbox and get to work.
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