Computer vision in manufacturing: transformative solutions through automation

Need to improve safety compliance or automate your manufacturing operations? Manufacturing companies can apply computer vision to optimize the most important aspects of their business.

More than 50% of manufacturers report that they are incorporating AI and Machine Learning into their production processes today, according to a 2024 survey conducted by Universal Robots. Manufacturers are transforming their businesses through AI, particularly by leveraging computer vision.

In this post, we'll address the issues that are top-of-mind for manufacturers, common problems that computer vision in manufacturing can solve, including four key applications for computer vision in the manufacturing industry. Let's take a closer look.

Common problems in manufacturing that computer vision can solve

Here's a look at just a few important issues that manufacturing companies face on a daily basis:

• Bottlenecks: Computer vision can analyze the flow of materials as well as operating procedures. Manufacturing companies can then get alerts to blockages or anomalies to help eliminate bottlenecks.

• Downtime: Things like equipment leaks, blocked aisles, operational errors, and inventory waste can cause a great deal of downtime. Preventative maintenance and frequent inspection is necessary to prevent this downtime, but can be very labor intensive and riddled with human error. Computer vision allows you to inspect more frequently to catch minor issues before they become a larger problem.

• Product errors: Computer vision can also be applied for more seamless quality control. A high-tech automation system like Groundlight’s computer vision technology uses high-res equipment (cameras) as well as tried-and-tested AI algorithms to detect any defects that others might miss. It can significantly reduce defect rates and improve product quality.

• Safety compliance: Through automated safety checks using computer vision, employers can reduce accidents in the workplace, such as ensuring that nobody is in a robot work cell or is using proper PPE in designated areas.

So if you're looking to evolve your business by implementing more automation, there's a number of situations where computer vision can be integrated into your manufacturing operations. Through predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, defect detection, and much more, computer vision will prevent these common day-to-day manufacturing problems from happening at all.

Computer vision in industry: automation tools to improve your manufacturing business

Need to overhaul some processes in your manufacturing business, combat labor shortages, stay ahead of competitors - or all of the above? If you've got things to fix on the ground floor, there are ways that computer vision can assist you in this feat. 

Here's a list of 5 ways that computer vision can transform the manufacturing industry.

1. Integration with cobots for automation

Cobots can be used for palletizing, machine tending, screw driving, welding, and more. Groundlight's computer vision technology can be easily integrated with popular robotic arms, such as Universal Robots, to enhance their capabilities and improve collaboration between humans and robots.

With manufacturers looking to automate and enable their robots to do even more, many are turning to vision guided robots. Unlike some extravagant custom-built AI and computer vision applications for robotics on the market today, Groundlight AI’s technology provides you with a ready-made, fully integrated solution for your cobots.

2. Machine tending

Machine tending tasks can be timely, tedious, and sometimes unsafe for your workers. But automating machine tending with vision guided robotics or computer vision on its own allows you to spend your time and energy on more intricate and involved tasks on a daily basis. In addition, have the confidence to run unattended for overnight shifts and make more parts.

Computer vision enables robots to automate machine tending with precision and reliability by detecting anomalies, such as when a part is loaded improperly in the CNC machine or if someone has left a tool in the robot cell.

If you’re looking for a computer vision solution that can adapt to your changing environment, then Groundlight AI is your solution. Traditional computer vision works well and makes economic sense if you have, for example, only one robot or a factory with 100 of the same robots doing the exact same task all day. However, rarely is that the case in the real world, where you are more likely to have many different machines doing many different tasks. Groundlight gives you easy access to unique models and human-language prompts so any of your staff can quickly deploy anomaly detection for their machine tending tasks.

3. Quality control and detecting defects

Computer vision can play a vital role in ensuring the highest quality standards in your manufacturing processes. While human error can be common when it comes to quality inspection, especially on a fast-paced assembly line, computer vision can identify defects and/or irregularities in your products with high precision - before it gets in the hands of the customer. As a result, you can maintain stricter quality control in your manufacturing business and reduce the need for manual inspections as well as increase overall product quality.

Groundlight’s visual inspections solution integrates with your cobots and can also be used for manufacturing processes with a stationary camera. By simply adding a few strategically placed cameras, a computer vision-powered application can gather real-time data and analyze it to accurately calculate deviation percentages and identify any anomalies or defects, ensuring compliance with the company's quality standards.

4. Packaging standards

Limit errors, cut costs, and get your packaging standards in place using computer vision. One primary use of a computer vision system is maintaining packaging standards, by providing an accurate calculation of the number of items that go in the box. Many installations also include a second computer vision application that can be used to check for any damage on the package once it's sealed. 

By checking for damaged packaging before it's shipped out, this will ensure your customers get the quality products that they paid for. So not only will you optimize your budget by limiting your packaging errors and any potential damage to products, it will also improve your customer service. Whether it's one of the top companies in the world or a local manufacturing business, it doesn't look good for your brand if a product is shipped out to a customer and the packaging is sub-standard. 

Groundlight AI can help you build a custom computer vision application to help you maintain quality standards, and if you don’t have developers in-house, they can also build a solution for you.

What Groundlight AI can do for your manufacturing business

Groundlight offers cutting-edge computer vision technology that can be seamlessly integrated into various industrial processes, enhancing efficiency, productivity, and quality control. On top of providing computer vision applications to meet your company's needs, Groundlight's technology can be easily integrated with popular robotic arms, such as Universal Robots, to enhance their capabilities and improve collaboration between humans and robots.