Audi Accelerates AI Integration in Production

Audi is accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into its production and logistics processes. The automotive manufacturer is expanding its proprietary cloud platform for production and introducing new AI applications and technologies for large-scale series production, leveraging the expertise of strong partners.

Gerd Walker, Member of the Board of Management for Production and Logistics at Audi, described artificial intelligence as a "quantum leap" for production efficiency. "With our AI and digitalization roadmap, we are transforming our plants into thinking factories where AI acts as a partner, providing precise support to our employees," Walker stated. He highlighted examples such as AI-driven robots taking over ergonomically demanding tasks and chatbots relieving workload.

The company has put its Edge Cloud 4 Production (EC4P) into operation within the large-scale production environment. This system enables a widespread implementation of AI in production by combining traditional automation technology with the flexibility and computing power of the cloud. This simplifies Audi's processes, reduces the need for on-site hardware, and allows for faster introduction of new functions. Consequently, processes become more stable, maintenance efforts decrease, and IT security is enhanced. For instance, worker guidance in German vehicle assembly lines is increasingly controlled centrally from the cloud, which has already eliminated over 1,000 industrial PCs.

In the Neckarsulm body shop, responsible for the A5 and A6 model series, EC4P is now being used for the first time in conjunction with highly automated production facilities in large-scale manufacturing. Virtual programmable controllers (vSPS) are replacing local hardware controllers on the production lines. Industrial devices, including approximately 100 robots, work together via EC4P with millisecond precision. This meets the stringent requirements for a seamless production flow, enabling the manufacturing of several hundred car bodies daily across three shifts—a significant benchmark for the industry.

Looking ahead, the Weld Splatter Detection (WSD) system is also slated for integration into the EC4P platform to further enhance flexibility and scalability. Audi continues its investment in AI to boost production efficiency and ensure quality.