A special forum titled Research on Technological Innovation of "Intelligent Agents" in the Intelligent Equipment Manufacturing Industry, a series academic event of the 28th Annual Conference of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), was grandly held at the China Hall of Science and Technology in Beijing. The conference was sponsored by CAST and undertaken by the Chinese Society for Internal Combustion Engines.Yang Zhen, Assistant to the Chairman of Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd. and Chairman of Guangxi StarNet Zhiyun Technology Co., Ltd., delivered a keynote speech entitled Technical Paths and Application Cases of Empowering the Full Value Chain of Power Equipment Manufacturing Industry with Intelligent Agents. He shared StarNet Zhiyun's explorations and practical achievements in the "AI + Manufacturing" field, which received an enthusiastic response from all participating guests.
Yang Zhen pointed out that AI is driving the manufacturing industry to achieve a strategic leap from "experience-driven" to "data-driven" development, and evolve from "point-based intelligence" to "full-chain collaboration".Lean production in the AI era is no longer merely about "waste elimination"; instead, it generates a multiplicative effect combining waste elimination and intelligent decision-making, serving as the engine for data-enabled intelligent decision-making.Yuchai and StarNet Zhiyun have deeply integrated AI technologies with lean production philosophies. Targeting the "543" goal - 50% shorter delivery cycles, 40% lower costs and 30% improved product quality - the two parties deploy "enterprise digital humans" to connect the entire industrial chain covering R&D, supply chain, manufacturing and after-sales services.
In the R&D segment, the Product R&D Digital Avatar cuts the parts and components design cycle from 2 days to just 1 hour. Intelligent generation of R&D test reports and automated fault analysis are realized, with fault location time reduced from half a day to less than 20 minutes.
In terms of supply chain and manufacturing, the Procurement Execution Digital Avatar shortens material chasing work from 9 hours to 55 minutes; the Production Scheduling Digital Avatar completes intelligent production scheduling within 10 minutes, delivering an on-time delivery rate exceeding 95%. AI visual inspection slashes manufacturing costs by over 30% and lifts product quality by more than 40%.
For the service system, intelligent customer service diverts 50% of incoming calls, and the intelligent order auditing system saves more than 20,000 man-hours annually.
When it comes to boosting product competitiveness via AI empowerment, the AI Fuel-saving Solution leverages high-precision maps and large AI models to help tractors save over 8,000 RMB in annual fuel costs per vehicle.
In the smart agriculture sector, StarNet Zhiyun has launched products including an auxiliary driving system and smart display screens. These offerings drive full-chain data-driven upgrading of agricultural machinery covering personnel management, equipment management and operation management, thereby empowering modern agriculture.
Up to now, relying on its AI Star Factory product, StarNet Zhiyun has built Yuchai's National VI emission standard digital engine factory into a benchmark case. The company provides lightweight and implementable AI intelligent manufacturing solutions for a large number of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, enabling more manufacturers to quickly connect the full value chain data links from R&D through to after-sales service.
Yang Zhen stated that StarNet Zhiyun will firmly implement the corporate strategic guideline of "All About AI". The company aims to develop more than 200 industry-specific intelligent agents and 30 types of digital employees within three years. It will open up its self-developed AI platform and technological capabilities, jointly establish an ecological alliance for the manufacturing sector with upstream and downstream partners in the industrial chain, and work together to stride into a new era of intelligent manufacturing.