Ford has brought back more than 300 experienced engineers after finding that artificial intelligence (AI) could not match their skills in checking the quality of its vehicles.
Like many companies, Ford introduced AI into some of its operations to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The technology was used in areas such as vehicle quality inspections, where it was expected to quickly detect defects and improve production.
However, the company later realised that AI alone was not enough.
Charles Poon, Ford’s Vice President of Vehicle Hardware Engineering, said AI is a useful tool, but it can only perform well if it is trained using the knowledge and experience of skilled people.
He admitted that Ford had made a mistake by relying too much on AI without making better use of its most experienced engineers, many of whom had spent decades designing and inspecting vehicles.
“We believed that simply introducing AI and feeding it design information would produce high-quality vehicles, but that did not happen,” Poon said.
Ford has now rehired more than 300 veteran quality inspectors and engineers. Their role is to train the AI systems using their experience while also mentoring younger employees.
Ford had previously invested heavily in AI, including installing about 900 AI-powered cameras in its factories to identify quality problems early and reduce production delays.
Despite those investments, company executives admitted that the automated systems lacked the practical judgement and expertise that experienced engineers bring to the job.
The renewed focus on human expertise appears to be paying off. Ford recently regained the top position among mainstream carmakers in the United States in the JD Power Initial Quality Study, an industry ranking that measures the quality of new vehicles. It is the first time the company has topped the list since 2010.
Ford said achieving this improvement required major changes, including appointing new leaders in engineering, manufacturing and supply chain management, as well as bringing back experienced engineers whose knowledge has helped improve both vehicle quality and the company’s AI systems.
The company’s experience highlights an important lesson for businesses adopting AI: while the technology can improve productivity, it works best when combined with human knowledge and experience rather than replacing it completely.
Source:BBC