Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1531857
48 tobaccoasia Issue 1, 2025 January / February By TobaccoChina Online From a global perspective, the wave of digitization continues to gain momentum, with next-genera- tion intelligent technologies becoming deeply in- tegrated in manufacturing processes, offering vast opportunities and high expectations. China's Min- istry of Industry and Information Technology has stated its intention to implement a digital trans- formation initiative in manufacturing, enhancing the integration of 5G+ industrial internet and ar- tificial intelligence, accelerating the application of digital technology across all industries and supply chains within manufacturing, and building smart factories, digital supply chains, and high-standard service parks. As part of China's manufacturing industry, the cigarette industry has continuously driven in- dustrial upgrades through innovation. In recent years, led by digital transformation, it has continu- ously promoted the construction of smart facto- ries, striving to realize the transformation of ciga- rette production from traditional manufacturing to "smart manufacturing." As a result, one "smart factory" after another is emerging. Industrial brain-powered smart factories In the blink of an eye, which takes only 0.1 sec- onds, a comprehensive "check-up" of a pack of cigarettes can be completed. The device capable of performing this high-difficulty task is called the "AI Self-Learning Small Box Appearance Defect Detection" device, developed by Hefei Cigarette Factory under China National Tobacco Corpora- tion's (CNTC) Anhui branch. Utilizing advanced AI technology, the device not only detects product appearance defects but also learns and improves continuously through data accumulation, enhanc- ing its recognition accuracy over time. There are many similar intelligent application scenarios in Hefei Cigarette Factory, but these sce- narios are only some of the "puzzle pieces" in the factory's transformation towards smart manufac- turing. To see the complete picture of the puzzle, it is necessary to understand the factory's planning and design for its smart manufacturing system. In 2019, the factory formulated the "Hefei Cigarette Smart Manufacturing" three-year plan. This plan covers five major capability frameworks that embody the essence of smart manufacturing, including IoT perception, data-driven processes, the industrial brain, and smart collaboration. With this plan as the "blueprint," a new intelligence- driven manufacturing management model began to take shape in the factory. IoT technology has equipped the factory with tireless "eyes." A large number of sensors, wireless detection, RFID electronic tags, and other China's Smart Cigarette Manufacturing China's tobacco industry is utilizing new 5G+ and AI technologies to enhance the manufacturing process.