Critical Manufacturing, a provider of next-generation manufacturing execution system (MES) software, has announced the acquisition of Convanit, an AI specialist focused on image-based analytics for high-tech manufacturing. According to Critical Manufacturing, the acquisition marks a significant step in expanding the capabilities of its IoT Data Platform by enabling customers to apply visual AI for greater operational precision, automation and insights.
Key to this acquisition is Convanit’s “c-Alice” — an image classification engine built for complex industrial environments. This software allows manufacturers to build and deploy custom AI models for visual inspection without the need for specialized programming or data science skills.
Through the integration of c-Alice, manufacturers using the Critical Manufacturing Data Platform will be able to:
- Ingest, classify and analyze image data in conjunction with real-time process data.
- Automate defect detection and trigger real-time anomaly alerts across production stages.
- Connect image insights directly to MES workflows, traceability records and quality reporting.
- Deploy scalable AI models with low latency for continuous in-line operations.
In its release announcing the acquisition, Critical Manufacturing noted that Convanit's interface supports a range of users including quality engineers and process specialists with no need for advanced coding skills. “This accessibility helps scale AI adoption across production teams, enabling ‘citizen data scientists’ to take ownership of model development and refinement,” the company said.
"Manufacturers face growing pressure to deliver higher quality, faster, and ensure complete traceability, yet visual data remains one of the most underused assets on the shop floor," said Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO of Critical Manufacturing. "By integrating Convanit's advanced AI-powered image analytics into our platform, we are transforming how customers convert unstructured image data into actionable, contextualized intelligence.”
