NTT Data's Fortience launches AI native diagnostic for manufacturers

Fortience frames its service around a problem it says is common in manufacturing: companies want a mid- to long-term vision for AI but have not actually formulated one, often because it is unclear what to aim for or how far AI should be allowed to make judgments and take actions. The diagnostic therefore starts not with individual tasks but with the future role of AI in value creation, and works backward from there. To make that concrete, it draws on a five-stage development model and on benchmark cases from advanced companies, examining not just how those companies use AI but also their business processes, organizations, data and governance. The output is a set of measures with priorities to close the gap between the target state and the current situation, which Fortience says helps clients move from diagnosis to action. The service also reflects a shift in where manufacturing AI is being applied, from demand forecasting and quality analysis toward design, production planning, and judgment and execution by equipment and robots.