LG Electronics has launched a groundbreaking manufacturing research and development (R&D) innovation with the development of Part-Riever, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered component search agent. This cutting-edge tool is designed to streamline the process of finding necessary parts during home appliance development.
On Friday, the company announced the transformation of decades of accumulated design data into AI-ready format. This allows artificial intelligence to learn, analyze, and make inferences, forming the foundation for the Part-Riever solution.
Part-Riever, a name that cleverly combines part and retrieve, supports natural language searches. Engineers can input specific criteria, and the AI comprehensively analyzes two-dimensional (2D) drawings, three-dimensional (3D) shape data, and technical documents to recommend the most suitable components. Even with varying part names or specifications, the AI can identify similarities and present results, typically within 1-2 minutes.
To maximize AI utilization, LG Electronics has meticulously structured its existing design data. Key information such as part specifications, materials, and manufacturing conditions were extracted from 2D drawings. 3D shape data was converted into vector format, enabling the AI to assess component similarities. This vector approach allows the AI to numerically express data characteristics for comparison.
This innovation empowers even junior engineers to easily leverage accumulated design assets like seasoned professionals. In some instances, component search tasks that previously took several days have been dramatically reduced to about 30 minutes, according to LG Electronics.
In a recent electric range development project, the AI analyzed roughly 550 candidate parts and recommended suitable alternatives, reducing the number of newly developed components by approximately 25%. By repurposing validated parts, the company achieved shorter development cycles, enhanced production efficiency, and improved design quality.
LG Electronics anticipates that broader adoption of validated parts will boost quality consistency and streamline service part supply. This approach is also expected to enhance productivity and supply chain competitiveness for their partners.
Currently, Part-Riever is undergoing proof of concept (PoC) to validate its technological robustness and practical applicability. The company aims to expand its implementation, allowing team members to freely utilize the tool within the year.
An LG Electronics spokesperson stated that the transformation of design data into assets and the development of AI agents represent a significant shift, enabling the entire organization to leverage individual experiences and expertise. It’s committed to continually improving development speed and quality through AI-driven manufacturing innovation, while enhancing customer experiences.