18.06.2026
International
Automotive manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve quality, reduce waste and accelerate production, while also managing labour shortages and rising energy costs. SmartRay provides high-precision 3D inspection technology for industrial quality control, including the AI-based weld inspection system JOSY.
A Practical Path to Industry 4.0 — From CAD to Inspection
SmartRay's workflow starts with customer CAD data, which is utilized to automatically generate robot inspection paths. These paths are then validated through digital simulation. The JOSY system is used for inline AI-based inspection, supported by statistical analysis of weld quality. This process facilitates future closed-loop adjustments in actual production settings.
Presented recently at EY’s European Industrial AI Innovation Hub, the workflow demonstrated how CAD-based planning, robot simulation and inline inspection can be connected in a practical industrial application. The approach can reduce manual programming effort, lower the risk of setup errors and support consistent inspection of relevant weld features.
Benefits at a Glance
- Up to 80% faster setup and commissioning
JOSY’s AI algorithms are designed to detect weld borders without manual parameterization or on‑site training. In suitable applications, this can reduce integration time by up to 80%, allowing manufacturers to begin collecting process data earlier in the production ramp-up. - Availability of critical quality data
SmartRay delivers provides quality insights before full-scale production begins. This can be particularly relevant during vehicle launch phases, where earlier access to inspection data may help reduce delays and support faster process optimisation. - Lower maintenance and greater process stability
Welding conditions continuously change in production environments. Coventional systems often require repeated readjustment. JOSY’s AI-based approach is designed to adapt to such variation and maintain stable inspection performance with reduced operator input. - Higher quality, fewer defects and reduced waste
JOSY’s statistical analysis tools can detect out-of-spec welds and help identify recurring process issues. This supports root-cause analysis and may help manufacturers address quality issues earlier in the process, rather than relying primarily on later rework or repair.
One Partner for an integrated Process
Many solution providers concentrate on individual parts of the workflow, such as inspection, simulation, or analytics. SmartRay’s approach combines these elements into one integrated process chain, from CAD data and planning to inspection and process analysis. This end-to-end workflow can simplify implementation by reducing the number of interfaces between separate systems. It also supports a more consistent flow of data across planning, inspection and quality analysis.
By choosing SmartRay, customers benefit from:
- A comprehensive, integrated solution
- AI-based inspection designed for production environments
- Easier integration and reduced maintenance effort
- Faster launch times
- Enhanced quality monitoring and potential cost reductions
- A pathway toward closed-loop factory automation
In short, JOSY does not only inspect welds. It helps make welding processes more transparent, measurable and easier to optimise, supporting more stable production performance.
A Way to Build the Cars of Tomorrow
SmartRay enables manufacturers to move beyond traditional inspection toward a more digital, automated production process. With its AI-based JOSY system, companies achieve a faster setup,
more stable processes, lower inspection effort and improved quality monitoring.
These capabilities are relevant for modern automotive manufacturing, where production efficiency, process transparency and reliable quality control are increasingly important.
(Source: SmartRay GmbH)
Schlagworte
3D-InspectionAIAnalysisAutomationAutomotiveCADCAD dataEnergy EfficiencyIndustryParameterizationRoboticSimulationSustainabilityWaste ReductionWelding
