Knowledge Graph

Assembly Line

A novel fine-grained assembly sequence planning method based on knowledge graph and deep reinforcement learning

📅 Date:

✍️ Authors: Mingjie Jiang, Yu Guo, Shaohua Huang, Jun Pu, Litong Zhang, Shengbo Wang

🔖 Topics: Production Planning, Knowledge Graph, Q-network

🏢 Organizations: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics


In the assembly sequence planning (ASP) of aviation products, recalibration of components or sufficient space to assemble subsequent components are critical factors for ensuring product quality. To address this need, a fine-grained ASP (FASP) is defined to take assembly operations as units to plan sequences. Lots of operations have complex sequence constraints that are attended unequally in the FASP. A method based on knowledge graph (KG) and deep reinforcement learning is proposed to plan assembly operations. Firstly, continuous and discrete procedures are defined, and a quantitative characterization method is presented to deduce complex constraints objectively. Then, a dynamic KG is designed to establish and update the information model mainly composed of constraints. Finally, a labeled degree centrality algorithm (LDCA) considers edge labels to minimize the number of assembly tool changes and assembly direction changes for sequences. An improved deep Q-network (IDQN) introduces a convolutional layer to extract local features of technical requirements for planning procedures more efficiently. A helicopter structure assembly is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The improved algorithms have better performance in solving speed, sequence quality, and convergence speed than ordinary ASP methods, respectively. The fine-grained assembly sequence is more reasonable and feasible by comparing it with the ordinary sequence.

Read more at Journal of Manufacturing Systems

The future is now: Unlocking the promise of AI in industrials

📅 Date:

✍️ Authors: Kimberly Borden, Mark Huntington, Mithun Kamat, Alex Singla, Joris Wijpkema, Bill Wiseman

🔖 Topics: AI, Manufacturing Analytics, Knowledge Graph

🏢 Organizations: McKinsey


Many executives remain unsure where to apply AI solutions to capture real bottom-line impact. The result has been slow rates of adoption, with many companies taking a wait-and-see approach rather than diving in.

Rather than endlessly contemplate possible applications, executives should set an overall direction and road map and then narrow their focus to areas in which AI can solve specific business problems and create tangible value. As a first step, industrial leaders could gain a better understanding of AI technology and how it can be used to solve specific business problems. They will then be better positioned to begin experimenting with new applications.

Read more at McKinsey Insights