The esteemed French university and Ford have previously joined forces to advance supply chain operational research utilizing Cermics’ state-of-the-art research and applied mathematics center. Denis Le Vot, the primary supply chain executive at Renault, and Anthony Briant, the director of École des Ponts ParisTech, inked a new five-year agreement on November 24 to strengthen their collaboration and accelerate the adoption of network technology leveraging artificial intelligence.
In tackling the challenges posed by digitalization and the processing of vast amounts of data, the integration of machine learning, operational research, and generative AI is deemed essential. Renault foresees that this continued partnership will facilitate the exploration of ambitious studies focused on specific logistics efficiency hurdles.
As per the OEM, “Renault Group has established a supply chain underpinned by extensive monitoring and decision-making tools, empowered by artificial intelligence, with the objective of enhancing value for its customers while reducing costs, inventories, and environmental impact.” This evolution entails embracing new methodologies and deepening expertise.
This represents the lengthiest agreement that the automaker has ever forged with an academic institution, underscoring its commitment to leveraging Cermics’ proficiency for ongoing enhancements over an extended duration.
In recent years, Renault has emphasized digitalization as a pivotal aspect of its supply chain enhancements. The company recognized in 2017 the necessity for a platform that could seamlessly integrate every facet of the production and supply chain processes, culminating in the creation of digital replicas of all operations. A significant investment was made over two years to equip 2,400 hectares of workshops with the requisite communication infrastructure to interconnect each component and establish a real-time digital model of operations.
Subsequently, by collaborating with leading tech firms to establish a digital control tower, Renault expanded this digital infrastructure into its logistics operations, incorporating open data and insights from Google Cloud, along with real-time shipping data from Shippeo. This development provides enhanced visibility into inbound and outbound flows, along with the capability to forecast and mitigate supply chain disruptions.
Delve deeper into how the electric power network is gearing up for the integration of AI in the forthcoming era.
During the Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Europe event earlier this year, Jean-François Salles, the Vice President of Partnerships (then the Global Vice President of Supply Chain) at Renault, addressed the audience. He highlighted how systems like the command center, AI, and digital twins have become instrumental in making supply chain and logistics pivotal to decision-making within the company. Speaking in Bonn, Germany, he stated, “This type of system provides exceptional foresight into potential shortages, enabling collaboration with various stakeholders, including our tier-one suppliers and carriers. Our sensors furnish us with data that empowers us to propose alternatives with AI assistance.”
Axel Parmentier, a professor and researcher at Cermics tasked with overseeing the medical research component, will spearhead the renewed partnership between Renault and the university. The research endeavors undertaken by Cermics are poised to serve as the focal point for theses aimed at enhancing operational methodologies through the utilization of highly intricate mathematical techniques such as large-scale, data-centric, sequential efficiency, and machine learning.
