Hitachi launches AI design knowledge system for manufacturing

Hitachi, Ltd. has launched a ‘Design Knowledge System’ as part of its HMAX Industry AI solution suite to assist manufacturing companies in digitizing expert expertise and improving design quality.

The system utilizes AI agents, operational technology (OT) insights, and proprietary shape recognition technology to convert tacit knowledge—such as veteran engineers' experience and technical documents—into formalized digital assets. It can automatically extract design rules from text and diagrams without requiring prompts, allowing users to search these rules via a chatbot using natural language.

A key feature is the integration of generative AI with a database of shape recognition functions. This allows the system to automatically generate programs from natural language rules to perform high-precision checks on 3D CAD data, visualizing any rule violations. This process aims to reduce manual inspection workloads, prevent errors, and minimize costly design reworks.

Hitachi High-Tech, a subsidiary, conducted prototype testing on sheet metal and fabrication drawings. The tests successfully identified 100% of defects in a three-year archive of inspection records, including issues with bending, cutting, and dimensional inaccuracies. Hitachi plans to expand the system's capabilities to include automatic generation of Bills of Materials (BOM) and manufacturing process plans (BOP).