Improving Throughput Using Artificial Intelligence

Identifying and eliminating throughput bottlenecks is a key tool to increase throughput and productivity in production systems. However, due to the complexity and dynamics of factory, eliminating throughput bottlenecks is considered a major challenge. Researchers have tried to develop tools to help identify and eliminate these bottlenecks. Historically, research efforts have focused on developing modeling approaches to identify bottlenecks in manufacturing systems. However, with the advent of industrial digitization and artificial intelligence, researchers have explored various ways in which artificial intelligence can be used to eliminate bottlenecks. In this research, the role of artificial intelligence in identifying and eliminating bottlenecks is stated and the efforts made in the field of operational throughput bottlenecks are classified into four categories: (1) identify, (2) diagnose, (3) predict and (4) prescribe. Also, practical recommendations and future research topics have been provided, which can help to improve the practi c a l a n d t h e o r e t i c a l u s e o f a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e i n i n d u s t r i e s .