Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Production: Application Areas and Publicly Available Data Sets

Abstract

The benefits of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) lie in controlling limits of production such as handling complexity, generating value out of big data as well as gaining efficiency. However, the application is not a straightforward endeavour. Every company has to address the challenge of identifying promising application areas, with the recognition of the associated learning tasks and the uncovering of appropriate data sets. This article provides guidance and recommendations for the application of ML and AI in production. A newly developed overview of application areas in production is given. Freely available data sets are presented and linked to the application areas to determine starting points for projects. The structured overview of production relevant application areas in connection with appropriate data sets is the first one available. With these data sets, it is possible to gain experiences with the application of ML and AI without having suitable data sets in-house.