Ford Motor Company has rehired more than 300 experienced quality inspectors after discovering that artificial intelligence systems used in its manufacturing plants could not fully replicate the expertise and judgement of seasoned human workers, according to a Bloomberg report.
The automaker had integrated AI into several areas of its operations, including the deployment of 900 AI-powered cameras to detect production defects and supply chain issues.
However, Charles Poon acknowledged that the company had overestimated the ability of the technology to independently deliver the desired level of quality.
“Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it’s only as good as the information you use to train it,” Poon said. “Over prior years, we didn’t pay as much attention as we should have to the experience of our most knowledgeable engineers who have been with us through many product cycles.”
According to Poon, the automated systems lacked the practical judgement and insight that experienced technicians acquire over many years on the job.
The rehired engineers, many of whom previously worked for the company, are now helping to train Ford’s AI systems while also mentoring younger employees.
“We recognised that for us to enhance some of our automation and machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, we needed to ensure that they were trained by the most experienced individuals,” he added.
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