Software firm secures six-figure digital innovation funding

IntelliAM AI, a Sheffield-based software business leveraging the power of AI and machine learning in the manufacturing industry, has secured six-figure backing.

It has confirmed that a subsidiary company has been named as a “Lighthouse for AI” and given a Digital Innovation Fund (DIF) Lighthouse Funding Award of about £263,000 approved for a research project to be completed during the company’s current financial year.

The grant for research into the application of AI in lubrication analysis is made by The Smart Manufacturing Data Hub which is funded by Innovate UK.

IntelliAM AI has access to over 180 manufacturing sites in the UK and has lubrication analysis results for thousands of components from the last 10 years. Lubrication is one of the key drivers of manufacturing downtime.

Using IntelliAM’s existing data, and new data to be collected during the project, a machine learning model (MLM) will be created to advise OEMs and SMEs on best practice lubrication for their components.

Software will be built that allows component information to be entered and the MLM will then create the grease and oil lubrication schedules automatically.

Software will also be built that creates an on-condition lubrication schedule based on bearing condition.

Also, an oil analysis result checker will be created, so organisations can upload individual oil analysis results and compare themselves to IntelliAM AI’s 10 years of history. Any issues will be highlighted and advice on action given.

IntelliAM AI explained: “This project will help reduce machine downtime on manufacturers equipment and create resilience against the reduction in engineering skills that we currently have in the UK.

“Sustainability will be improved as oil will only be replaced when needed.

“This project will impact the company on three fronts, namely improved internal productivity, new machine learning access to SMEs and a commercial product to increase sales.”