On November 17-18, 2022, Alps System Integration (Dalian) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "ALSI") was invited to attend the "8th International Intelligent Manufacturing (Wuhan) Forum." Dr. Xiaoli Zhang, Director of ALSI, participated in a high-level panel discussion alongside Dr. Pei Huang, member of the National Intelligent Manufacturing Expert Committee and CEO of e-works; Dr. Qinghua Liu, General Manager of Wuhan TYSOFT Co., Ltd.; Jie Chen, Vice President of Supply Chain Products at Youhualin; and Qingming Tan, Director of Strategic Planning at Wuhan Kaimu Information Technology Co., Ltd. Together, they explored the theme of "Enterprise Intelligent Manufacturing Advancement Strategies."

ALSI has compiled the discussion highlights, aiming to share insights on the transformation and upgrading of manufacturing enterprises with industry peers.

Below is an excerpt from Dr. Xiaoli Zhang's presentation:

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Advancing intelligent manufacturing is an inevitable path for the transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry. As the concept of intelligent manufacturing matures, many enterprises have already embarked on the journey of digital transformation. However, during the implementation of intelligent manufacturing, attempting to tackle everything at once without prioritization will inevitably lead to failure. How can enterprises navigate the direction of intelligent manufacturing and adopt effective strategies? Dr. Xiaoli Zhang, Director of ALSI, shares his insights.

Question 1

How should manufacturing enterprises define their entry points and roadmap for advancing intelligent manufacturing?

Dr. Xiaoli Zhang: Intelligent manufacturing is a broad topic. In the process of digital transformation, enterprises must clarify their objectives and identify suitable entry points. So, how can companies ensure their decisions are correct? ALSI advocates "data-driven decision-making"—using actual enterprise data as a baseline to uncover root causes and drive digital transformation.

However, in reality, most manufacturing enterprises lack sufficient data to support decision-making. Is it due to a lack of data? No, it stems from insufficient collection, integration, and analysis of data. When data cannot be effectively utilized, the intelligent transformation decisions enterprises pursue lack accurate foundations.

ALSI's Intelligent Production Equipment Management Solution enables precise collection of equipment data, assisting enterprises in production decision-making. It has been successfully deployed in hundreds of factories, delivering tangible results in advancing digital transformation and achieving intelligent manufacturing.

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Question 2

What risks exist in advancing intelligent manufacturing, and how can manufacturing enterprises mitigate these risks to avoid blind trial-and-error and achieve expected benefits?

Dr. Xiaoli Zhang: There are many sophisticated intelligent systems on the market. If enterprises blindly invest without considering which system suits their needs, failure is likely. Companies should not implement systems for the sake of systems, nor pursue intelligent manufacturing for its own sake. The most critical thing at present is for enterprises to clearly define what problems they intend to solve.

ALSI has always integrated lean thinking with the manufacturing floor, adhering to the philosophy of "low cost, small steps and rapid iteration, retrofitting existing equipment, and updating based on site conditions." We reject waste and ineffective investments, creating tools and systems that are proficiently used on the shop floor, walking hand-in-hand with clients to co-create value.

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Question 3

How should manufacturing enterprises comprehensively consider digitization, automation, lean principles, green practices, and intelligence to achieve tangible results in advancing intelligent manufacturing?

Dr. Xiaoli Zhang: The most challenging aspect of advancing intelligent manufacturing is unifying people's mindsets. In this regard, ALSI consistently prioritizes "lean" principles, embedding lean thinking into products through digitization and systemization, enabling these products to achieve efficiency and high quality in production, management, and other processes. Before the pandemic, ALSI annually invited Japanese senior lean management experts to provide on-site guidance at factories, offering recommendations tailored to local conditions to facilitate problem-solving on the shop floor.

In the process of advancing intelligent manufacturing, the value of lean and digital approaches becomes increasingly prominent. The success of transformation in manufacturing enterprises largely depends on whether leaders and the organization possess the mindset and capability for lean management. Leveraging over 30 years of manufacturing experience, ALSI deeply integrates lean principles with digital technologies, delivering practical intelligent manufacturing solutions. By making data the foundation of lean practices, we drive smart production on the shop floor, helping enterprises improve quality and efficiency for sustainable growth.

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Without practical implementation, even the most intelligent tools remain mere castles in the air. As one of the leading providers of intelligent manufacturing solutions, ALSI will continue to deepen its presence in this field, enhance lean and digital capabilities, and provide comprehensive professional support for enterprises advancing intelligent manufacturing—driven by data and supported by innovative technologies.