I contributed an article to the June 2026 issue of "Press Technology"
ovitApproaches for Smoothly Implementing Automated Visual Inspection
─ A Field-Oriented Approach That Balances Productivity Improvement and Quality Assurance ─
I contributed an article to the technical journal *Press Technology*, published on May 8, 2026.
*Press Technology, June 2026 Issue* Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Official Online Shop
In this article,
- The Real Challenges Faced on the Front Lines with Automated Visual Inspection
- Why "Just Adding AI" Isn't Always the Solution
- An Approach to Balancing Productivity and Quality Assurance
- How to Design a Good-Product Determination System
- What is an inspection system that can be used on-site?
We have organized these topics based on real-world perspectives from the field.
Not "OK/NG," but "Is it the same as the good product?"
When it comes to visual inspections,
Detecting Defects with AI
High-speed pass/fail determination
I think that’s the impression many people have.
However, in actual manufacturing settings,
- Product Variation
- Ambiguity in the criteria
- Variations in judgment
- Accountability for Quality Assurance
There are many issues that cannot be resolved simply by binary classification.
That is why it is important to,
Compared to “a product that anyone would agree is of high quality,”
we look at “how similar it is”
That is the idea.
By aligning positions and conditions and comparing them while accounting for statistical variation,
we build inspection logic that can be explained on the shop floor.
This isn't just about image processing technology;
it's also about "how to design quality assurance itself."
What Is Practical Automation?
Test automation is,
- The higher the accuracy, the better
- Just use AI
- As long as it's fast, that's fine
It’s not that simple.
In fact,
- Can the system operate stably?
- Can anyone use it?
- Can it be maintained?
- Can you explain the reasoning behind the decision?
- Will it fit in with the production line?
is extremely important.
In this article, we’ve organized these “key points that really make a difference after implementation” in a way that’s as practical as possible.
I am also scheduled to give a presentation at the Image Sensing Exhibition 2026
In addition, the event to be held on June 11, 2026
I plan to give a presentation based on the content of this article at the seminar as well.
Click here for seminar information:
Image Sensing Expo Seminar Information
Including details that couldn’t be covered in the magazine,
I hope to discuss the thinking and design approaches used in actual inspection settings in greater detail.
Finally
Automating visual inspections is not merely about "reducing the workforce," but rather,
- Quality Assurance
- Productivity
- Explainability
- Field operability
I feel that the theme here is how to balance the two.
What kind of inspections are truly useful in the field?
I hope this helps clarify the issue.
