September 4, 2018
Macnica Networks Corp.

- Achieving high-dimensional analysis and insight in smart factories through AI and digital twin technology -

We are pleased to announce that Macnica Networks Corp., a leading supplier of networking devices and security solutions (headquarters: 1-5-5 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Japan; President: Jun Ikeda; hereinafter "Macnica Networks") and Sight Machine, a USA based company providing a Data Analytics Platform that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics to address critical challenges in quality and productivity throughout the enterprise. (head office: California, US; CEO & Co-Founder: Jon Sobel) have concluded a distributorship agreement in Japan.

Today we see an intensification of global competition, and a strong demand for streamlining of manufacturing operations for cost reduction and environmental protection. Coupled with these critical subject matters we are also experiencing a shortage in the workforce due to the declining birthrate and an aging Japan population. With these challenges the importance of utilizing IoT and AI in the manufacturing processes, such as in Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories, are becoming greater and greater. In order to utilize IoT and AI in manufacturing sites it is important to understand the relationship of the various data sets in the manufacturing systems (ie: sensor data, manufacturing data (PLC, MES, SCADA), database data (ERP, quality inspection), and image data) and be able to perform comprehensive analysis of the data sets to gain real time visibility and actionable insights in order to effectively work towards streamlining operations, cost reduction and environmental protection concerns.

Sight Machine's Data Analytics Platform offers real time visualization of global manufacturing sites, and the ability to compare and analyze data models created by the AI Data pipeline. The platform applications include Enterprise Manufacturing Visibility (EMV) and Enterprise Manufacturing Analytics (EMA). EMV and EMA provide the capability of linking all data in the various manufacturing sites and achieving integrated management, visualization and analysis. This allows you to easily and quickly achieve visualization of your operating rates and perform analyses for quality improvement and equipment maintenance. This can be achieved without the help of a statistics expert or other resources simply by the ingestion of data into the platform. More specifically, management can investigate the optimization of production by conducting KPI comparisons between each factory, the plant managers can understand the overview of production volume, operational status, and real-time responses can be implemented, as needed. Also, those in charge of each production line are able to perform optimal maintenance through the visualization of facility conditions. The platform not only enables visualization, but also allows you to perform analyses in various fields, such as performing curve-fitting analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, and statistical process control.

As Sight Machine’s primary distributor, Macnica Networks will work with secondary distributors to market the Data Analytics Platform throughout Japan. By providing the state-of-the-art technology and know-how of Sight Machine, we are contributing to the digital transformation of manufacturing sites through the use of IoT and AI. We are working together to help increase the global competitiveness of our clients.

Functions

Examples of utilization

Dashboard samples

1For those in management: Overall monitoring of factories/comparison between factories

2For plant managers: Visualization of factory production conditions

3For those in charge of production lines: Comprehension of facility conditions

Sight Machine: Company Outline

Sight Machine provides a production analysis platform that implements artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analysis to handle major issues such as the quality and productivity of enterprises throughout the manufacturing industry. Incorporating AI and the industry’s only factory digital twin technology, this analysis platform enables real-time visualization and viable insight for all production lines throughout an enterprise, individual factories, and the company as a whole.

*The company names and product names used herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective company.