7
such as 3D printing, IoT, big data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence
to support decision making within the factory with real time visibility and operational
intelligence, enable higher uptime and quality at each individual manufacturing machine
tool, increase throughput and inventory turns by enhancing data visibility at factory level
and in the supply chain.
36
The factory will facilitate the production of jet engines, locomotive
technology and wind turbines among other things.
37
This initiative served as an acceleration
to the ‘Make in India’ policy and the government has invited GE to expand its production
to include shipbuilding and defence manufacturing.
38
News items also quote government
officials noting that the factory will open up 1,500 jobs and support local business.
39
In
another example, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has also undertaken research into the
integration of AI techniques for process monitoring, control, and maintenance systems.
40
Agriculture
The agricultural manufacturing industry in India consists of two sectors. The heavy
agricultural machinery sectors primarily manufactures products such as tractors and tractor-
driven equipment, while the light agricultural machinery sector is involved in manufacturing
smaller tools, like motorised tillers, pumps, and harvesters.
Initiatives surrounding the use of AI technologies in agriculture in India are focused on
enabling data driven agriculture through technologies such as image recognition, drones,
machine learning, sensors, 3D laser scanning, driverless tractors, and chatbots - for
monitoring, detection of abnormalities or defects, undertaking tasks like spraying chemicals,
and predicting and forecasting growth and price. Our study identified six start up companies
using AI in agriculture sector by using AI driven analytics to improve crop production in
agriculture. Though the adoption of AI in agriculture can lead to more efficient farming and
greater yields, challenges that have been identified include access to robust data as a result
of a lack of power and connectivity in fields and technical capacity to deploy the technology.
41
Data Driven Agriculture
For example, Microsoft has collaborated with ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute
for Semi-Arid Tropics) to develop an AI Sowing App which is powered Machine Learning,
Power BI and Microsoft’s Cortana.
42
Participating farmers receive information through text
messages on the optimal date to sow their seeds. This process only requires the farmers to
possess a phone which can receive text messages. The App is being tested in Andhra Pradesh
36 Brilliant Factories are Making Manufacturing Pretty Brilliant, Lalit Khandelwal. Retrieved
February 23, 2018, from https://www.ge.com/digital/blog/brilliant-factories-are-making-
manufacturing-pretty-brilliant
37 GE’S Brilliant Advanced Manufacturing Plant in Pune, India, Tomas Kellner. Retrieved
February 23, 2018, from https://www.ge.com/reports/post/110927997125/ges-brilliant-advanced-
manufacturing-plant-in/
38 Rise of the Machines, Goutam Das. Retrieved February 23, 2018, from http://www.
businesstoday.in/magazine/features/mncs-indian-companies-started-investing-in-smart-factories/
story/207247.html
39 PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates GE’s ‘Brilliant Factory’ in Pune. Retrieved February 23, 2018,
from http://www.business-standard.com/content/b2b-manufacturing-industry/pm-narendra-modi-
inaugurates-ge-s-brilliant-factory-in-pune-115022000684_1.html
40 Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited - Research and Development. Retrieved February 23, 2018,
from http://www.bhel.com/about_rd_electronic_control.php
41 FarmBeats: AI & IoT for Agriculture. Retrieved February 23, 2018, from https://www.microsoft.
com/en-us/research/project/farmbeats-iot-agriculture/
42 Digital Agriculture: Farmers in India are using AI to Increase Crop Yields. Retrieved February 23,
2018, from https://news.microsoft.com/en-in/features/ai-agriculture-icrisat-upl-india/