RM 122: The Integration of AI into Inspection Systems

When it comes to circuit assemblies, defects result in one of two situations. The preferred result of a defect is to capture it on your factory floor and repair it before it ships to the customer. The second scenario is referred to as an escape. That’s when the board ships to the customer and fails in the field. This is a scenario, all assemblers dread and strive to prevent. One way to prevent escapes is through the use of automated inspection or AOI systems.

Mike Konrad's guests are Arif Virani, chief operating officer and cofounder of Darwin AI, and Bart Piwowar, CTO of Darwin AI, a manufacturer of innovative inspection systems.

Virani is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He spearheads the company’s mission to transform manufacturing with a new standard for quality inspection using AI. DarwinAI’s solutions have been implemented at top electronics manufacturers to increase quality and efficiency while reducing waste. DarwinAI was selected by CBInsights for its AI 100 annual list of the 100 most promising private AI companies in the world in both 2020 and 2021.

Before founding DarwinAI, Virani had a successful career in management consulting at McKinsey & Co., where he advised Fortune 500 enterprises on technology investments and transformation. He led several technology-enabled programs, including building and commercializing data and analytics capabilities. Virani started his career working as a software developer at various technology companies. In addition to his work at DarwinAI, Virani is an Advisory Board Member of NGEN Canada’s AI for Manufacturing Initiative. He has a master’s in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a bachelor’s in applied science (computer engineering) from the University of Waterloo.

Piwowar is an experienced product leader, leading high-performing product teams driven by data to deliver solutions that solve customer's problems. He has spent many years leading data science teams, applying Innovation methodologies, and working with emerging technologies to bring solutions in many disciplines. He graduated from University of Waterloo with a degree in physics and computing and followed with an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Piwowar's career interests range from AI product development, decision science and entrepreneurship.