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Should you consider SAS as a knowledge, AI and analytics powerhouse, Epic Video games because the studio behind Fortnite and Georgia-Pacific as the corporate that makes paper towels and extra, you’re not mistaken.
However you’re additionally lacking the larger story. One which – quietly and collaboratively – is reshaping how industrial corporations use real-time AI to unravel real-world issues.
On the coronary heart of this transformation is an modern mixture of AI, real-time analytics and 3D visualization to modernize manufacturing. Executives from SAS, Epic Video games and Georgia-Pacific took the stage at SAS Innovate 2025 in Orlando to tug again the curtain on what they have been constructing – and why it issues.
The know-how stack reads like a want checklist for forward-thinking operations leaders: SAS® Viya® for superior analytics and machine studying, Epic Video games’ Unreal Engine for hyper-realistic 3D visualization, and a linked digital twin infrastructure for Georgia-Pacific that mirrors actual manufacturing facility environments. However the magic isn’t simply within the instruments – it’s in how they’re built-in.
Preserve studying about this collaboration or watch it in motion within the video above. Or, each.
Digital twins, reimagined
We’ve heard the time period “digital twin” tossed round in boardrooms and white papers. However as SAS Chief Know-how Officer Bryan Harris identified on stage, it’s time to go deeper.
“Many individuals have completely different definitions. However the query we needs to be asking is: what’s the purpose of a digital twin for a enterprise?”
For SAS, the reply is obvious: digital twins ought to simulate complicated environments, generate artificial knowledge and ship actionable insights. Harris argued that digital twins shouldn’t solely work like the actual world but in addition appear like it.
That’s the place Epic Video games is available in.
Be taught extra about digital twins
The Unreal benefit
Most individuals know Epic Video games for Fortnite, one of many world’s most performed video games. They won’t understand that the Unreal Engine, the know-how behind Fortnite, powers every little thing from architectural renderings to autonomous car simulations.
Invoice Clifford, Vice President of Unreal Engine Ecosystem at Epic Video games, defined it this fashion:
“Unreal is a real-time 3D engine used for product design, simulation, coaching, and gross sales and advertising and marketing purposes throughout giant enterprises.”
And now, due to a collaboration with SAS, Unreal Engine is powering photorealistic digital twins of real-world factories. These simulations aren’t simply aesthetically pleasing – they’re good.
The organizations co-developed a plug-in that connects Unreal Engine to SAS Viya. This permits customers to entry real-time knowledge from simulated environments to gas AI fashions that analyze, optimize and check industrial operations.
Testing the bounds at Georgia-Pacific
Roshan Shah, Vice President of AI at Georgia-Pacific (GP), laid out the problem clearly:
“At present’s manufacturing crops are complicated environments with autonomous guided automobiles (AGVs), robotics and other people all working collectively. When issues go mistaken, it will get costly and other people can get harm.”
Their first check case was GP’s 400-meter-long Savannah River Mill – bigger than 4 soccer fields. At this facility, which manufactures client items together with napkins, paper towels and bathroom tissue, GP labored with SAS to optimize AGV routing for value and security.
The staff surfaced a number of promising situations by analyzing fleet motion utilizing SAS Viya and modeling routing methods. However as an alternative of playing thousands and thousands on testing these methods in a stay manufacturing facility, they turned to the digital twin.
At present’s manufacturing crops are complicated environments with autonomous guided automobiles (AGVs), robotics and other people all working collectively. When issues go mistaken, it will get costly and other people can get harm. Roshan Shah
“Because of Unreal Engine,” Clifford defined, “we are able to comprehend the complexities of the bodily world in a high-fidelity digital surroundings and iterate in actual time with the simulation.”
Moreover, behind the scenes, SAS created a Manufacturing unit Editor for the plant managers. Shah spoke in regards to the influence of this:
“This editor makes it straightforward for plant managers to develop completely different ‘what if’ situations. It’s an entire game-changer. Pun supposed!”
Rising the variety of AGVs appeared logical in a single simulation, but it surely created a visitors jam. Unreal Engine flagged the problem and allowed the staff to experiment nearly. The consequence?
“To enhance the imply mission time by eight %, we have to lower the fleet dimension by three AGVs. Meaning the proper variety of AGVs in our Savannah facility is 47.”
Take into consideration that: a totally simulated manufacturing facility, offering a exact operational advice with out lifting a wrench in the actual world.
Security with out threat
However the innovation didn’t cease at logistics.
“A employee dies each 90 minutes from a job-related damage within the U.S.,” Harris stated. “At present, present laptop imaginative and prescient fashions are solely enhancing on the price of office accidents.”
That’s unacceptable. So, the staff requested, “What if we may prepare these fashions higher with out placing anybody in hurt’s method?”
With Unreal Engine, they’ll. Digital staff have been inserted into lifelike manufacturing facility scenes, partaking in regular and unsafe behaviors. Shah defined:
“We will simulate staff partaking in harmful behaviors with out posing dangers to them in the actual world. The entire behaviors you see listed below are mechanically labeled as ‘unsafe.’”
They even altered elements like digicam angles, lighting and protecting gear to generate wealthy artificial knowledge that may energy simpler security fashions.
“Hopefully, an worker received’t be doing a push-up on the conveyor belt, however you get the purpose,” Shah joked.
What’s artificial knowledge?
The larger image
What makes this collaboration compelling isn’t simply the tech – it’s the intent.
This collaboration exhibits how instruments historically reserved for leisure may be repurposed for enterprise. It exhibits how immersive environments, artificial knowledge and AI can work collectively to save cash and lives.
“That is the way forward for manufacturing operations,” Harris stated.
And he’s proper. As a result of as soon as you may simulate something, check every little thing and optimize with out threat, why wouldn’t you?
This isn’t science fiction. It’s a working answer utilized by a world producer, powered by applied sciences you already know.
The world of AI is accelerating quick. However modern collaboration like this exhibits that we are able to construct one thing higher than the actual factor when the proper minds come collectively, with function and precision.
Not as a result of it replaces actuality, however as a result of it makes actuality work higher.
Watch extra on this video:
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