A Perspective on Artificial Intelligence for Process Manufacturing

To achieve sustainable development goals and the requirements of a circular economy, a new class of intelligent computer-aided methods and tools is needed. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been gaining much attention due to their ability to provide options to tackle the challenges we are currently facing. However, the successful application of AI to solve problems of current interest requires AI to be integrated with associated process systems engineering methods and tools that are already available or being developed. In this perspective paper, we highlight the use of a collection of process systems engineering methods and tools augmented by AI techniques to solve problems related to process manufacturing, with a focus on chemical product design, process synthesis and design, process control, and process safety and hazards.