Protecting AI Data in Manufacturing Is a New Frontier

Big data and AI have revolutionized the manufacturing industry, making factories autonomous as well as smart. With the advent of novel sensors and the Internet of Things, current manufacturing facilities are collecting trillions of bytes of data from almost every tool in a manufacturing operation. AI processes the data for production and throughput optimization, supply chain management, product quality assurance, predictive and/or preventative maintenance, energy reduction and a host of other functions. Given the complexity of manufacturing operations, one of the biggest challenges is enabling a free flow of information throughout the operational process while simultaneously protecting rights to valuable data and AI-related intellectual property (IP). The problem is exacerbated because implementing and applying AI is significantly different than that of traditional software systems. As a result, many businesses fail to derive value from data and technology due to a failure to adequately secure and/or enforce their rights.