Optimizing Manufacturing with Berk Birand from Fero Labs

Impact AI

Manufacturing is a fundamental part of our economy. Unfortunately, a huge swath of the industry is still dependent on outdated methods, adversely impacting our environment. To address these challenges, one company is harnessing the power of AI to transform traditional manufacturing, driving unprecedented efficiency and sustainability in the industry. Joining me today is Berk Birand, co-founder and CEO of Fero Labs, to unpack how AI is optimizing the manufacturing sector.

Tuning in, you'll learn all about Fero Labs' innovative software and how it’s empowering engineers in industries like steel and chemicals to harness machine learning, drastically reducing waste and energy consumption. We discuss how their AI analyzes historical production data to ensure factories operate at peak performance and how this is boosting sustainability and profitability. Our conversation also unpacks the critical role of explainable AI in building trust within the industrial sector, where precision and reliability are essential. Tune in to discover how Fero Labs is paving the way for a greener industrial future!

Key Points:

• Berk Birand’s education and career background.
• How he co-founded Fero Labs with his business partner.
• An overview of Fero Labs’ AI software.
• Fero Labs’ role in reducing raw material waste in the steel industry.
• How they have helped improve energy efficiency in chemical manufacturing.
• Data analysis and how their software provides recommendations for efficient operations.
• Understanding the high stakes involved in manufacturing processes.
• Why AI explainability is crucial in the industrial sector.
• How they are building explainable models that engineers can trust and understand.
• Why now is the right time to build this technology.
• His advice to AI-powered startups: seriously consider the cost of a bad prediction.
• Fero Labs’ long-term vision to achieve a more circular and sustainable industrial sector.

Quotes:

"One of our largest customers was able to reduce the waste of raw materials, about a million pounds just throughout last year, by using our software AI system." — Berk Birand

"We think AI will play a key role in the transition to a green economy." — Berk Birand

"The best people to be solving these types of challenges, ultimately, are the engineers that work at the plants. The engineers that have the most domain expertise." — Berk Birand

"In an environment like this, an engineer in a factory would just not want to use a software that they don't trust, because ultimately, it's their job that's on the line." — Berk Birand

“With the new drive towards building an industrial sector that is more circular and more sustainable, there's incredible potential to optimize not just an individual factory, but beyond that, to optimize the entire supply chain by optimizing factories jointly.” — Berk Birand

Links:

Berk Birand on LinkedIn

Fero Labs

Resources for Computer Vision Teams:

LinkedIn – Connect with Heather.

Computer Vision Insights Newsletter – A biweekly newsletter to help bring the latest machine learning and computer vision research to applications in people and planetary health.

Computer Vision Strategy Session – Not sure how to advance your computer vision project? Get unstuck with a clear set of next steps. Schedule a 1 hour strategy session now to advance your project.