Manufacturing SMEs play a crucial role in employment and value creation in the Aurora programme area, but many operate in peripheral regions with limited access to expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), automation and data-driven production. Increasing competition, cost pressure and sustainability requirements make productivity and resource efficiency more important, yet many SMEs struggle to assess where AI can create value and how to prepare AI-ready production data.
The Interreg Aurora funded small-scale project Feasibility Study for AI Assistant for Smart Manufacturing SMEs is a cross-border feasibility study that explores how existing AI technologies could support an AI assistant concept adapted to manufacturing SME needs. The project focuses on data readiness as a key bottleneck for AI adoption and on understanding how an AI assistant could guide SMEs in structuring, documenting and improving data for future AI use.
Through joint surveys, interviews and selected case examples with SMEs in Finland and Sweden, the project will identify common challenges and opportunities related toAI-assisted support in production environments. Illustrative datasets will be examined to highlight typical data readiness issues, while relevant AI and conversational technologies will be reviewed at a conceptual level.
Cross-border cooperation enables the combination of complementary expertise and diverse industrial contexts, ensuring that results are robust and transferable. The project will deliver identified use cases, a feasibility report, a practical AI-readiness checklist for manufacturing SMEs, and a high-level concept outline for an SME oriented AI assistant. While no solutions are implemented, the project supports sustainable development by reducing uncertainty around AI investments, promoting human-centric digitalisation and strengthening long-term competitiveness through shared cross-border knowledge and cooperation.
Contact Jari Alanko, project manager, Seinäjoen Ammattikorkeakoulu, Jari.Alanko@seamk.fi
