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More and more companies are using artificial intelligence. This study is the first to systematically show possible fields of application for weak artificial intelligence to reduce the consumption of resources in companies. The focus is on the manufacturing industry. Scientific foundations, application examples and a survey of companies show how artificial intelligence can be used for greater resource efficiency in operational practice. It therefore provides a good basis for companies to determine which potential areas of application for AI are relevant in the field of resource efficiency.
At the heart of the study are eight scientifically sound AI application scenarios, whose implementation in practice is illustrated using examples from the manufacturing industry. These are the result of a qualified process: 54 publications were identified by means of literature research (approx. 1300 scientific articles), from which 15 application scenarios were derived. These were reduced to eight scenarios, which are of particular importance for operational resource efficiency, through dialogue with technical experts. Each scenario was subjected to a qualitative potential analysis and illustrated with practical examples from companies in Germany.
42% of the companies surveyed already use AI - both SMEs and large companies. The primary goals of these companies are to save costs and time and to increase quality. Saving natural resources is not a primary goal, but is becoming increasingly important for future applications. The companies see the highest savings potential in the use of AI in materials (91.5%), followed by energy (90.2%). A high savings potential is also seen for water and CO2. According to the study, AI is and will remain part of the corporate strategy of both large companies (60.6%) and SMEs (66.7%).
The study was conducted by Deloitte Consulting GmbH - Analytics & Cognitive and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. It was supervised and commissioned by VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz GmbH. This organisation works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
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VDI ZRE / Julia ZschiedrichCooling lubricants (coolants) are of great importance in metal cutting and forming. They increase the productivity and cost-effectiveness of the processes. In companies in the metalworking industry, water-miscible cooling lubricants are used in around 90 % of machining processes. They consist of a mostly mineral oil-based base oil and an additive package.
© Kadmy/Fotolia.comThe digital transformation in industrial production offers considerable potential for increasing material and energy efficiency in companies. At the same time, the digitisation technologies used also require resources themselves: materials, including critical raw material, are used in the production of ICT components. Furthermore, the digital transformation can lead to higher energy consumption. The study "Resource efficiency through industry 4.0 - Potentials for SMEs in the manufacturing sector" focuses on this conflict between opportunities and challenges.
© VDI ZREStationary energy storage systems are a necessary component of a future power supply system with high shares of renewable energies. Used in decentralized industrial applications, they help to increase resource efficiency while minimizing the costs of power supply. Storage solutions for the short to medium-term storage of electrical energy are therefore seen as a contribution to the success of the energy transition being driven forward in Germany.
© Cybrain/Fotolia.comAdditive processes as a key technology of digitisation are considered to be faster and more cost-effective. Among other things, because less scrap is produced and less waste is generated during manufacturing. Using a specific case study, the study compares the resource consumption of an additive manufacturing process with a conventional manufacturing process.
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