Is Now The Time For Machine Learning In Manufacturing?

It wasn't until this past year that I was introduced to the concept of machine learning. As with most advanced technologies, it took a personal experience to help me best understand the concepts and benefits. Case in point -- a couple of months had passed before I fully connected a Nest thermostat to our Wi-Fi network and the Internet. Before this connectivity, the well-designed thermostat managed our home temperature much like our previous thermostat. Once connected, however, it better understood our preferences and patterns for managing home comfort and reducing energy requirements.