By Caryn Anderson
AIMI connects you with Penn State. Photo: Provided.
Penn State’s Center for Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry (AIMI), which launched on June 30, 2022, has a complex, multifaceted goal. In part, AIMI aims to help small and medium manufacturers (SMMs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) get the resources they need to leverage the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Additionally, the center strives to secure an indigenous supply chain, support robust workforce development and improve education and economies throughout the country.
To learn more about AIMI, we sat down with its director, Soundar Kumara, a pioneer in nonlinear real-time data analysis for the manufacturing industry, and assistant director Gretta Kellogg.
Meet the industry powerhouses behind AIMI
Kumara has been working in this space for decades, with research and teaching excellence that contributed to his recognition as one of Smart Magazine’s “20 Most Influential Academics” in 2021. Widely considered the “father of smart manufacturing in the current era,” Kumara also pioneered teaching manufacturing-related AI, databases and data analytics to undergraduates and graduates, while addressing the interdisciplinary approach needed for successful smart manufacturing.
Kellogg worked as a program manager for two Genomic Centers at Penn State. Her work was so successful that she was recruited to launch Cornell University’s Epigenomics Core facility. Then, she was asked to return to Penn State specifically to work with Kumara and support AIMI’s mission.
“The background that [Kumara] provides, his experience and his professional expertise over the decades is really important because I have never known a center or core facility that is able to launch without relying upon the expertise of the initial leader in that space,” said Kellogg.
“There is a passion and goal to reach out, in the state of Pennsylvania in particular, to fulfill our land grant mission [with] the small and medium manufacturing organizations. AIMI strives to help them get to the place where they can do advanced manufacturing and become leaders in the world.”
She added, “AIMI’s success really depends upon the breadth and depth of his knowledge in AI and ML and his ability to apply that specifically to manufacturing. There is a passion and goal to reach out, in the state of Pennsylvania in particular, to fulfill our land grant mission [with] the small and medium manufacturing organizations. AIMI strives to help them get to the place where they can do advanced manufacturing and become leaders in the world.”
But when ICDA initially approached Kumara to help AIMI get started, he was hesitant. After heading another center in the past, which he eventually left after spending too much time fundraising instead of performing research, he didn’t want to risk a repeat of history.
Kumara noted, “But then I realized this was an opportunity to parlay my experience and expertise into something that would make a difference. After talking to my friends around the country, I could see that SME, AI and ML are the future — and that excites me.”
Taking small and medium industries into the future
AIMI’s slogan, “We are the innovators for you,” reflects the center’s calling, which is to lead industry into the future. Part of that, Kumara acknowledges, is addressing small and medium industries, particularly in order for supply chains to remain local and within the United States, lessening dependence on other countries for materials and products.
“COVID has taught us that we need to be more self-reliant,” said Kumara. “We need to innovate small and medium industries, taking them to what used to be Industry 4.0, but today is Industry 5.0. Also, how do we bring SMEs together to be part of the manufacturing ecosystems? That’s where AIMI’s work begins.”
The center recently submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation, outlining its project to revitalize underserved communities with a skilled workforce that can support a thriving United States-based supply chain for greater manufacturing resilience. This will be in conjunction with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, a nonprofit organization helping Connecticut’s small and medium-sized industries. More locally, AIMI will also partner with PennTAP and Ben Franklin Technology Partners with the goal of bringing all these organizations together to fulfill Penn State’s land grant mission.
“COVID has taught us that we need to be more self-reliant,” said Kumara. “We need to innovate small and medium industries, taking them to what used to be Industry 4.0, but today is Industry 5.0. Also, how do we bring SMEs together to be part of the manufacturing ecosystems? That’s where AIMI’s work begins.”
But taking Industry 5.0 to SMEs is easier said than done. Kumara has experience working with a range of smaller organizations. What he discovered was that some smaller companies don’t even have access to the internet.
“You can’t go and just tell them they need AI and ML. They’ll show you where the door is,” he noted.
Understanding the unique problems and challenges these companies face and advancing the necessary research and upskilling to solve those challenges is mission critical, though. That’s why AIMI is bringing a consortium together to study the problems within SMEs and find a solution.
Kumara said, “It isn’t just our pipe dream; the country needs this to happen. My vision and dream is for AIMI to become the world’s leading AI and ML center, eventually becoming a global force within the next five to 10 years. We are bringing in the Commonwealth campuses and building a model with our partners to create a national force that SMEs can turn to for our expertise and resources.”
AIMI memberships benefit industry. Photo: Provided.
Immediate impact
AIMI is also considering how it can help build local economies by upskilling the local workforce, creating jobs and improving rural education.
“If we do a good job of building up small and medium enterprises across the state, then that helps the students and local communities immediately,” noted Kellogg. “Instead of having to recruit from people way outside, you can have workforce development pipelines that take advantage of the high school and college students in the community and the students that come out of our Penn State campus locations across the state.”
The benefit? Graduates can work immediately with small and medium manufacturing companies right there in their area. They don’t have to move, and the companies don’t have to recruit to go out and find them.
What about large industries?
Although AIMI will focus on SMEs and SMMs, it will also be a conduit for AI in larger industries.
“We realized that unless we build those small and medium industries, our large industries will not be successful in the next generation,” said Kumara.
He envisions in the next five years, small and medium industries will function as an extended arm of large industries. Today, a big industry might have a finance department, marketing department and assembly department. In the future, they will have an assembly SME as an extended arm of the company. Large hospital systems will tie into small hospitals.
He concluded, “If large industries really want to use AI and ML successfully, they need to advance small and medium industries. We are their in-between.”
AIMI plans to host a two-day workshop at Penn State in the spring, during which they’ll gather information from small and medium industries, to learn about their challenges and problems. As it’s still in its early stages, AIMI also partners with student groups already active in learning and applying AI and ML to various projects, including Penn State EnvironMentors, Penn State’s Readiness Institute and the Nittany AI Alliance.
To learn more about AIMI, visit https://aimi.psu.edu/ or contact AIMI to further discuss your interests.
