Emerging technology — from the introduction of assembly lines to the Internet of Things — has always defined manufacturing.

With the creation of computers and early automation came traditional machine vision, in which machines analyze photos of parts and components for defects based on a set of human-defined rules. While it reduces human error, traditional machine vision lacks the capacity to solve for pain points like complex defects and changing environments.

Today, more sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), allows manufacturers to use AI-powered visual inspection to enhance quality and reduce costs. But even now, only 5% of manufacturing companies have a clearly defined strategy for implementing AI.

Companies need strategies to overcome challenges in visual inspection, which still relies heavily on human inspectors or inflexible rules-based machine vision. The cost of sending defective pieces to customers — both in reputation and in recalls — isn’t sustainable in a competitive global environment.

The right AI platforms offer tools that can enhance quality control and cut costs — after users tackle key obstacles.