Advances and Opportunities of AI and Machine Learning in Industrial Process Monitoring and Control

Abstract

To ensure safety, reliability, and productivity of industrial processes, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques have been widely used in process industries for decades.    The benefits of process monitoring and control are well documented and employed routinely in manufacturing.  This talk will go over historical perspective and recent AI and machine learning successes in the areas of real-time analytics, deep learning, reinforcement learning, visualization, and feature engineering.  Complex interaction between human decision and automated control will be discussed.    Humans grow expertise by quickly adapting to abnormal conditions and using domain knowledge to generate creative solutions.  However, reproducing human decisions across the enterprise is a challenge.  A common misconception is that AI is to replace human decision.  The talk will emphasize how AI and control systems must be complementary to make human decisions as efficient and consistent as possible.  Human decision will remain a center piece of how to operate industrial processes in a safe, reliable, and productive manner.