Is there a place for it? Well, not only is there a place for it, but the tech- nology is already alive, kicking, and in action at various companies and mills in the industry. In this issue we have an excellent article about how AI is being applied in production planning, particularly in the area of demand forecasting. Here AI is enabling tissue manufacturers to anticipate demand with precision, align operations across departments, and strengthen partnerships with suppliers and distributors.

In a case study within the article, a producer using an AI program, I-Plan, recorded a 20 percent increase in forecast accuracy, a 50 percent reduction in planning effort, reduced inventory costs, improved on-time deliv- ery rates, and a reduction in waste.

TALKING TO YOUR MACHINES-REALLY?

Further on down the pipeline, it will soon be possible to actually talk to tissue machines in your own preferred language via a chatbot on your desktop. This will enable operators to receive instant feedback on questions about efficiency issues in real time and make any adjustments necessary. Andritz has already launched such technology for the pulp industry in the shape of Metris Copilot in col- laboration with Microsoft, and soon the technology will.