- Petra Vecajova
- December 22, 2023
- 10:16 am
ChatGPT: Revolution in Machine Maintenance?
In a world where technology is constantly advancing, NeuronSW takes an innovative approach to machine monitoring using generative artificial intelligence. In this article, we delve into how these cutting-edge technologies not only streamline industrial processes but also simplify tasks for our customers. This, in turn, unveils exciting new opportunities in machine maintenance and management.
In the realm of industrial maintenance, Neuron Soundware (NSW) has investigated potential collaboration opportunities between its software and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is a large language model, an artificial intelligence trained on extensive data, employing natural language processing to generate human-like conversational dialogue. It utilizes specific documents, like equipment manuals or repair guides, as a basis for generating responses.
How can maintenance experts benefit from this synergy? Let’s delve into the subject and investigate the suggested applications, technical solutions, their benefits, and limitations.
Searching in manuals
The integration of ChatGPT with NSW’s nGuard application offers a promising solution to assist users in diagnosing machine issues. By utilizing information from service manuals and real-time machine data, the enhanced application can suggest further steps for proper maintenance. It can also locate the page that contains the relevant diagram of a specific machine part or provide a list of potential issues based on symptom descriptions. All of this is done within the context of the documents you provide as part of your query.
According to our testing, assistance generated in this manner through ChatGPT offers practical tips that can save time for service technicians. However, the effectiveness of the solution seems to depend on the formulation and completeness of the query. Users may need to become ‘prompt specialists,’ learning how to effectively phrase questions to the language model.
The second key factor for achieving successful responses is the accuracy of the available data and relevant information. The quality of the contents of manuals is key in the success of utilizing ChatGPT in machine maintenance. If the available documents do not contain a precise answer, the language model retrieves the nearest general information from its ‘memory,’ which can be misleading.
In general, aligning a series of events alerted in the monitoring portal with information from existing manuals is not a trivial task; human insight is still necessary for the optimal functioning of this synergy. Human expertise is essential for interpreting the outputs generated by ChatGPT, especially in cases of complex diagnostics and decision-making. This includes understanding nuances in machine behavior that may not be apparent from manuals or standard diagnostic protocols.
Comprehensive summary analysis
Another challenge lies in the integration of extensive datasets. ChatGPT relies on access to up-to-date and comprehensive data about machines, including historical information about their operation, maintenance, and performance. However, data security and privacy protection are also critical considerations.
Given the increasing emphasis on cybersecurity and data privacy, it is imperative to ensure the secure handling of all data processed by ChatGPT. Launching an internal language model, or at the very least, considering an Enterprise version that does not transmit data outside the company, is a prudent step.
Despite these challenges, the potential for collaboration between ChatGPT and nGuard remains significant. An intriguing addition could be Google’s recent multimodal model, Gemini, which can process both text and images as inputs. However, our experience with ChatGPT in image processing and data extraction from it is currently limited.
As we observe the continuous progress in this domain, it appears inevitable that these systems will undergo further refinement, especially when leveraged in conjunction with our machine fault database.
Report and summary generation
The nGuard system automatically generates customer reports, typically prepared and reviewed by Neuron Soundware specialists on a monthly basis.
Additionally, ChatGPT has the capability to process various reports based on simple tabular or similar data formats. These reports can be exported from our system and directly fed into ChatGPT. Any user proficient in spreadsheet software like MS Excel can, through natural language queries, create summary graphs or aggregated tables tailored to their preferences. They have the flexibility to request diverse analyses, such as compiling a list of the most common faults in a specific component, as an example.
Nonetheless, the experience and expertise of a diagnostic engineer remain indispensable. They can offer valuable context to the numbers and graphs based on long-term data trends, thereby generating valuable insights for maintenance or customer quality departments.
Conclusion: the future of nGuard with ChatGPT
Despite the promising potential of AI-powered chat tools, challenges and risks persist in their everyday use. The risk of receiving incorrect or misleading responses depends on the quality of the provided documentation, the ability to formulate questions correctly, and understanding the context. Additionally, models may evolve over time, and users may have limited control over future model behaviors.
Nevertheless, NSW’s nGuard system, in collaboration with ChatGPT technology, demonstrates significant potential and unveils a range of emerging opportunities. We are actively working on solutions to address the limitations mentioned.
As the quality of language models continues to improve, the integration of these solutions can substantially enhance efficiency and effectiveness in addressing various machine-related problems. An integrated solution can offer valuable insights and targeted guidance, potentially revolutionizing the field of machine maintenance.
Would you like to explore the possibilities of using artificial intelligence for effective machine monitoring and maintenance further? Please feel free to schedule a non-binding meeting with us.
