Manufacturers are finding AI is no longer the answer to automating operations and improving product quality. While AI can increase the defect detection rate by up to 90% over human inspection, it's useless if manufacturers cannot obtain the information they need when they need it. Without a faster process, they continue to run the risk of unplanned shutdowns and production errors. "The challenge manufacturers have with AI is actually validating and verifying the return of investment," says Shunichi Kagaya, Senior Engineer at Hitachi, a leader in digital and IoT solutions. "Manufacturers understand the value of data and they want to use it. But they don't understand how."