SUBARU uses AI to guarantee the quality of engine parts

SUBARU, a major automobile manufacturer, started full-scale operation of an AI model that can determine the quality of grinding process with high accuracy on its mass production line for engine parts from the end of January 2022. The AI model had been jointly developed by SUBARU and Fujitsu and was introduced to the mass production line for camshafts at the Oizumi Plant in Gunma Prefecture.

SUBARU first collects data on camshaft’s spindle power and vibration from sensors installed in the grinding machine via edge devices. The AI model utilizes the collected data to estimate the quality status of the camshaft. It determines whether the quality is within the tolerance and feeds back the result to the grinder.

From December 2019 to December 2020, the company had been conducting a demonstration experiment to implement AI models for quality assurance in the grinding process of engine camshafts. From August 2020 to December 2021, the company had also been conducting a demonstration experiment of AI models for quality assurance that are intended to be used in mass production lines. Through these tests, the company determined that the AI model can maintain the quality of the camshaft grinding process and decided to start full-scale operation on the mass production line.