The role of AI for the machine builder of the future

Ralf Zoetekouw, founder of Datacation, explains the concrete benefits of AI for the mechanical engineering industry. Practical customization provides the translation between mechanical engineers and AI specialists.

Ralf Zoetekouw proudly tells how Datacation grew from a one-man business to a company with thirty employees in 3.5 years. Thirty bright minds, from econometricians to data engineers and AI specialists, work together on the most diverse projects. In 3.5 years, Datacation has already built up an impressive track record. Clients such as ASML and KLM Catering Services are competing for their services. “IT nerds with a social character,” Ralf summarizes his company. “We are all hardcore techies with the soft skills needed to solve a problem within an organization.”

Datacation works on custom projects. A project usually starts with a quick scan. This is an analysis in which they investigate how data and AI can be used to reduce costs, increase turnover or improve the quality of the entire process. The goal of a quick scan is to get the best possible picture of the organization. And to create a roadmap on how data and AI can improve various processes within the organization in the long term. Thanks to this method, Datacation can deliver custom projects. And for this, communication, one of the soft skills, is very important.

“A project is successful when the technicians and the domain experts find each other. Only then can you speak of 1+1=3”, Ralf explains. “Only when the machine builders and the technicians of Datacation find each other can you achieve co-creation: knowledge exchange between technical knowledge and domain knowledge. This is essential.”

Using practical examples, Ralf shows how AI can add value to mechanical engineering. He notices that many presentations about AI are not concrete enough to show what the value of AI is for 'smarter adjustment of the business process'. The question he is often asked is: what value does AI really add to my company? To answer this question, Ralf gives a number of practical examples in his presentation that concretely show what you can do with AI. He notices that when he presents a final solution, the people in the room can very well translate it to their own company.

Ralf gives an example of an AI-based language model. “With current techniques, you can develop a knowledge base chatbot. You put all internal documents into this chatbot and you can then ask your question directly. For example: “You have received a free ticket for an F1 race. Can you accept this?”

During his presentation, Ralf discusses a practical example of a production company of 2500 FTE. They have found another application for such a language model. The production company has many work instructions for machines and on an annual basis 30 FTE are busy making adjustments. Ralf showed them the possibilities of language models, inspired them to get started with AI, and they themselves made the translation to apply this to the work instructions. During his presentation he explains exactly how they did this.

Ralf concludes enthusiastically. He knows where he wants to go with his company and he is convinced that AI will be inextricably linked to the mechanical engineering industry in the future.

Visit the Machine Building event of the Benelux on December 3 at Congrescentrum 1931 in 's-Hertogenbosch.