Automation has become an integral part of modern production. It has been helping to increase productivity for many years, but is mainly found in larger companies. What was previously difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to automate due to the large number of component variants and handling scenarios is gaining new momentum thanks to machine learning processes. Reinforcement learning in particular holds great potential: processes can now be automated for which conventional automation was previously unthinkable.
Reinforcement learning (RL) is one of the three basic learning methods of machine learning, alongside supervised and unsupervised learning. In reinforcement learning, the system learns to perform optimal sequences of actions through feedback in the form of rewards or punishments. This can take place in a real or simulated environment by performing tasks in it and learning which action leads to the maximum reward (and therefore the best possible task fulfillment).
This offers great potential for manufacturing companies: processes can now be automated in environments that were previously too unstructured or complex for conventional automation solutions. When using reinforcement learning, it is no longer necessary to think in advance about which logic or which specific action sequences a machine will use to achieve its goal; instead, only the goal itself needs to be defined. The system then learns by itself what the best decision is in every situation and under a wide variety of environmental conditions. The areas of application are diverse: from picking a wide variety of components using robots to optimized designs in product development and chatbots in customer service.
Free guide explains the basics and reveals when it's worth getting started
The practical guide from the Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Augsburg explains how reinforcement learning works and the areas in which it can be used in companies. The following guide goes through an RL project step by step and provides helpful tips. Is there a need in your company? What tasks will you face during implementation? And what requirements do you need to fulfill for an RL project? You can download the answers to these questions free of charge here: https://kompetenzzentrum-augsburg-digital.de/leitfaden_reinforcement_learning
