Tongtai Shares AI Agent Applications in Smart Manufacturing
When AI moves beyond "answering questions" to "helping get work done," how will smart manufacturing evolve?
On August 18, Bert Tseng, Associate Vice President of Tongtai's Intelligent Technology Division, spoke at the 2026 Taiwan AI Academy Annual Conference on "AI Agents for Smart Manufacturing," sharing Tongtai's journey from Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing to AI Agents.
For manufacturers, AI is rapidly evolving—from machine condition monitoring and tool/spindle life prediction, to generative AI for knowledge retrieval and anomaly interpretation, and now to AI Agents that can combine enterprise knowledge, workflows, and digital tools to support real-world tasks.
Two key development directions were highlighted:
🔹 TLM Agent
By integrating Tongtai's TLM production line management system, production data, and AI tools, the TLM Agent can assist with line status checks, historical data compilation, and capacity analysis—reducing repetitive searches and system switching.
🔹 CPS Agent
By combining engineering knowledge, Skills, MCP, and digital twin tools, the CPS Agent can help interpret layouts and process information, generate digital twin programs, run simulations, and analyze results—bringing AI deeper into engineering workflows.
In the past, people learned how to operate each software system. In the future, they may simply define what they want to accomplish, while AI coordinates the tools needed to complete the task.
As AI takes on more repetitive querying, operation, and analysis, engineers can focus more on judgment, validation, optimization, and decision-making.
From connected machines and TLM production line management to CPS digital twins and AI Agents, Tongtai continues to explore how digital technologies can create practical value on the shop floor.
As Industry 4.0 and AI continue to converge, smart manufacturing is moving from Automation toward greater Autonomy.
