Spearheading Resurgence in Interconnected Supply Chains

Crowdstrike update crashes Windows-based PCs. Manufacturers evaluate both their physical and software supply chains for single points of failure. AI agents take action.

Jul 21, 2024

Shop Talk

Capturing this week's zeitgeist

Can you please tell me what Windows 10 and Windows 11 assets have not been seen on the network for longer than X hours?

Securing modern industrial automation environments remains challenging when an automatic update by security company Crowdstrike crashed 8.5 million Windows PCs around the world descending aviation, banking, and manufacturers into crisis. CrowdStrike has released a fix that requires manual intervention for each endpoint.

Kaizen Blitz

🚦 Andon Status
- 🟢 POSCO DX to focus on AI-led intelligent factory systems
- 🟢 LG Accelerates Smart Factory Solutions Business Integrating AI with 66-Year Manufacturing Expertise
- 🟢 First Solar commissions Western Hemisphere’s Largest Solar R&D Center
📊 Survey Says
- Augury’s State of Production Health 2024 with 96% of leaders feeling optimistic about manufacturing’s future.
- Zebra Technologies’ AI Machine Vision in the Automotive Industry Benchmark Report
- NAM’s How Manufacturers Are Using Artificial Intelligence
🗣️ Town Hall
- Agility Robotics CEO Peggy Johnson hints at “fully loaded $30 per hour” for its Digit humanoid.
- Michael Larsson, President of Dematic, discusses robotics, how AI affects automation design, and the rise of flexible fulfillment.
- Ambarella CTO Les Kohn on LLM readiness for Robotics and Self-Driving.
- CEO Peter Schmitt on Fluent Metal's single-step liquid metal 3D printing technology
🏛️📜 Industrial Policy
- $2 Billion to Support American Auto Workers through retooling 11 Existing Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Facilities for Electric Vehicles.
- GlobalWafers to Significantly Increase Production of Silicon Wafers in U.S. with $400 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act.

Assembly Line

This week's most influential Industry 4.0 media.

Inside The Lockheed Martin Plant That’s Spearheading Resurgent F-16 Sales

✍️ Author: Jamie Hunter
🏭 Vertical: Defense, Aerospace
🏢 Organizations: Lockheed Martin

The plant at Donaldson Airport, Greenville, is now the center of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 production effort. Here, the company is building brand new Block 70/72 variants of the fighter that’s known unofficially as the Viper for new and returning F-16 customers, including Bahrain, Bulgaria, Jordan, Slovakia, and Taiwan.

Manufacturing the new Block 70/72 F-16 still relies heavily on aluminium, with very few composite structures. Greenville has already introduced 15 new production techniques for the F-16, including one that’s taken directly from the F-35 program. A new automatic robot is now used to drill, ream, and countersync some 2,800 holes in the center fuselage to prepare it for application of the outer skin surface. It makes for a process that’s faster, more accurate and cheaper. The program is also now using augmented reality in the process of the installation of wiring harnesses, to help engineers route cabling inside the aircraft’s structure.

Honeywell Aerospace Leverages Ansys for Future-Ready Aviation Solutions

Fully automated, physics-based analysis of SCADA temperature signals for Drivetrain Monitoring

🔖 Topics: SCADA, Condition-based Maintenance
🏢 Organizations: SkySpecs

The SkySpecs Performance team has demonstrated that physics-based models can be used to model the thermal response of components inside the wind turbine with full transparency, low complexity, and high accuracy. By using this approach, a number of faults can be detected across a wind turbine portfolio, including gearbox, main bearing, and generator damage.

The rate of change of body temperature is then calculated using a thermal inertia coefficient, calculated for each individual turbine. All coefficients are trained using reference datasets from relatively short time periods, and used to predict future temperature responses of the same components. Prediction and measurement are finally compared to produce residual values, which in turn were used to detect the presence of component faults.

Building a generative AI reservoir simulation assistant with Stone Ridge Technology

✍️ Authors: Dmitriy Tishechkin, Dan Kahn, Karthik Mukundakrishnan
🔖 Topics: Generative AI, Large language model, Retrieval Augmented Generation
🏢 Organizations: AWS, Stone Ridge Technology

In the field of reservoir simulation, accurate modeling is paramount for understanding and predicting the behavior of subsurface flow through geological formations. However, the complexities involved in creating, implementing, and optimizing these models often pose significant challenges, even for experienced professionals. Fortunately, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) offers a transformative solution to streamline and enhance the reservoir simulation workflow.

Although not covered in this architecture, two key elements enhance this workflow significantly and are the topic of future exploration: 1) simulation execution using natural language by orchestration through a generative AI agent, and 2) multimodal generative AI (vision and text) analysis and interpretation of reservoir simulation results such as well production logs and 3D depth slices for pressure and saturation evolution. As future work, automating aspects of our current architecture is being explored using an agentic workflow framework.

Remanufacturing Initiation for Original Equipment Manufacturers

✍️ Author: Johan Vogt Duberg
🔖 Topics: Remanufacturing
🏢 Organizations: Linköping University

Returning end-of-life products to as-new condition is called remanufacturing and can be an essential element in a circular economy. But for more industrial companies to take an interest in it, remanufacturing needs to be economically viable. In a doctoral thesis from Linköping University, Johan Vogt Duberg has investigated how this can be accomplished.

This research takes a stand in case study and transdisciplinary research where the initiation of profitable remanufacturing is studied at two original equipment manufacturers. The research study developed knowledge of how remanufacturing could be incorporated into existing operations at original equipment manufacturers. In parallel, financial assessments based on cost-benefit analysis were built to measure how well the case companies could perform remanufacturing. For the case study research, seven remanufacturing scenarios were developed, ranging from centralised remanufacturing performed by the original equipment manufacturer to decentralised performed at multiple locations using a retail network. Which scenario is preferable depends on, for example, risk-consciousness, cooperation between actors, and volume targets. However, given ideal circumstances, remanufacturing in-house in a centralised scenario was shown to be the most beneficial for the investigated original equipment manufacturer since the fewer middle hands and economies of scale also potentially enable lower costs.

Read more at DiVA and Technology.org

New Product Introduction

Highlighting new and innovative facilities, processes, products, and services

Industry’s First Technology to Use Magnesium Alloys in Wire-Laser Metal 3D Printer Developed by Multi-sector Consortium in Japan

🔖 Topics: Additive manufacturing
🏢 Organizations: Mitsubishi Electric, Kumamoto University, TOHO KINZOKU, JAXA

Magnesium Research Center (MRC) of Kumamoto University, TOHO KINZOKU CO., LTD., and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the 3D printing industry’s first high-precision additive manufacturing (AM) technology for using magnesium alloys in a wire-laser metal 3D printer via the directed energy deposition (DED) method, marking a significant leap forward in industrial manufacturing. Unlocking the potential to process magnesium alloys with unparalleled precision and complexity will pave the way for rocket, automobile, aircraft, etc. components that are lighter and stronger than those made of iron or aluminum, leading to improved fuel efficiency and, in the case of rockets, reduced production costs.

The consortium combined Mitsubishi Electric’s metal 3D printer, which uses the wire-laser DED method and metal wire instead of metal powder as a material, with a highly nonflammable KUMADAI heat-resistant magnesium alloy developed by MRC. In tests, Mitsubishi Electric repeated the molding process with the KUMADAI heat-resistant magnesium alloy produced by TOHO KINZOKU using advanced wire drawing technology. The result is a new technology that uses a magnesium-alloy wire as an AM material and precise temperature control to prevent combustion.

New AI-powered dynamic slotting simplifies warehouse reslotting with click of a button

🔖 Topics: Warehouse Automation
🏢 Organizations: Lucas Systems

Distribution center technology provider, Lucas Systems, announced its next generation of Dynamic Slotting, a warehouse game changer for providing in-the-moment reslotting decisions, thanks to the powerful use of AI. Dynamic Slotting’s recommendations identify product moves that offer the biggest potential payback. Hundreds of parameters are taken into account including demand seasonality, item size, SKU velocity and costs. Its similarity detection prevents placing related items side by side to reduce picking errors. Lucas Systems’ Dynamic Slotting promises 20-40% increase in throughput because it recommends best locations for inventory based on SKU velocity, SKU affinity, product/slot information, pick paths and other data.

Business Transactions

This week's top funding events, acquisitions, and partnerships across industrial value chains.

Nearfield Instruments secures €135 million in landmark deep-tech funding round

🔖 Topics: Funding Event
🏢 Organizations: Nearfield Instruments, Walden Catalyst, Temasek

Nearfield Instruments, the developer of state-of-the art Metrology & Inspection (M&I) solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, announced the successful closure of a €135 million Series-C funding round. The oversubscribed funding round is led by two new major investors, Walden Catalyst, an industry leading US venture capital firm helping the next generation of category-defining businesses in deep-tech, and Temasek, a global investor that also looks into opportunities in emerging technologies to solve complex and high impact challenges, and address market inflections. M&G Investments, a leading global asset manager, through its Catalyst strategy, is acting as a co-investor. The success of this round is further underscored by the participation of existing investors Innovation Industries, Invest-NL, and ING.

The growing complexities in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, driven by the surge in demand for higher performing and lower energy consuming chips, are addressed by Nearfield’s innovative process control solutions. These include the QUADRA 3D metrology system that provides non-destructive, high-throughput, and high-resolution metrology capabilities. Nearfield is deeply engaged with most major chip manufacturers globally, and QUADRA is fully validated and deployed in high-volume manufacturing.

Halo Industries Closes $80 Million Series B Funding Round Led by Thomas Tull’s U.S. Innovative Technology Fund

🏢 Organizations: Halo Industries, US Innovative Technology Fund

Halo Industries, Inc., the creator of a laser manufacturing technology platform for the semiconductor industry, announced it raised up to $80 million in its oversubscribed Series B funding round. Led by Thomas Tull’s U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) with participation from 8VC and SAIC, the funding will help Halo Industries scale the commercialization and reach of its technology and advance its mission to establish the new gold-standard of silicon carbide substrate production.

Halo Industries’ proprietary laser-based tools and processing technologies enable efficient, precise and high-quality manufacturing that minimizes the cost, waste and environmental impact associated with traditional manufacturing methods. The company manufactures several materials used for semiconductor production, including silicon carbide (SiC) wafers, which serve as the building block of efficient high voltage power electronics. Leveraging SiC wafers for power devices enables greater power output and system performance while being smaller, lighter, and more robust than traditional materials. SiC is a hard, brittle material that is challenging to cut without losing meaningful amounts, and Halo Industries’ proprietary laser-based slicing tools significantly increase yield and quality of SiC while minimizing waste and production cost.

Standard Bots Secures $63M in Funding to Propel American Manufacturing Forward with AI-Driven Robotics

🏢 Organizations: Standard Bots, General Catalyst, Amazon

Standard Bots, a pioneer in robotics automation, announced it has raised $63 million in total funding, with its recent Series B round led by General Catalyst with participation from Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Samsung Next. The company has already successfully launched its RO1 robotic arm and is now preparing to bring its new AI-powered robots to market, unlocking use cases and industries untouched by traditional robotics, such as complex assembly, food preparation, or dishwashing.

Standard Bots designs and assembles collaborative robotic arms in the United States to transform industrial sectors such as manufacturing. The company is also developing a transformer-based model that leverages the power of AI to enhance robotic capabilities. By observing human demonstrations, Standard Bots empowers robots to master intricate tasks from loading complex welding fixtures to folding clothing with unprecedented precision, marking a pivotal moment in the industry and unlocking a realm of new possibilities previously deemed by many to be beyond robotic reach. Standard Bots’ RO1 and RO2 robotic arms are currently in production and are designed for high variability and challenging real-world applications, a stark contrast to traditional, pre-programmed robots that often cannot navigate unpredictable conditions such as dynamic or cluttered environments and unexpected obstacles.

PowerCo and QuantumScape Announce Landmark Agreement to Industrialize Solid-State Batteries

🔖 Topics: Partnership
🏢 Organizations: PowerCo, QuantumScape, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group’s battery company PowerCo and QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) announced they have entered into a groundbreaking agreement to industrialize QuantumScape’s next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. Upon satisfactory technical progress and certain royalty payments, QuantumScape will grant PowerCo the license to mass produce battery cells based on QuantumScape’s technology platform.

TRUMPF and SiMa.ai agree on strategic partnership for lasers with artificial intelligence

🏢 Organizations: TRUMPF, SiMa ai

TRUMPF and SiMa.ai, the software-centric, embedded edge machine learning system-on-chip company, signed a partnership to develop lasers with artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to equip several laser systems of TRUMPF with AI technology in the near future. This includes systems for welding, cutting and marking, as well as powder metal 3D printers. Both companies bring their respective expertise to the collaboration: TRUMPF, its laser application expertise, and SiMa.ai, its machine learning system on chip (MLSoC) technology.

The joint collaboration intends to accelerate complex material processing. The powerful, compact and energy-efficient AI chips will be integrated directly into the laser systems. The AI-optimized sensor technology can monitor the quality of the laser welding process in real time and evaluate more than 3,000 images per second. In electric car production, for example, the real-time quality inspection during laser welding with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to replace separate and complex testing procedures. Moreover, battery manufacturers will be able to increase the quality of their production in real time and reduce the reject rate which could ultimately lower the price of electric cars for consumers.

Cleveland-Cliffs to Acquire Stelco for C$70 per Share

🔖 Topics: Acquisition
🏢 Organizations: Cleveland-Cliffs, Stelco

Stelco Holdings Inc. (TSX: STLC) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF), pursuant to which Cliffs has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Stelco at a price of C$70.00 per share, consisting of C$60.00 in cash and 0.454 of a share of Cliffs common stock (equivalent to C$10.00 based on the closing price of Cliffs common stock on July 12, 2024) per Stelco share.

The total enterprise value pursuant to the Transaction is approximately C$3.4 billion. The Consideration represents an 87% premium to Stelco’s closing share price of C$37.36 on July 12, 2024, and a 37% premium to Stelco’s 52-week high.

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