World Class Manufacturing 4.0 and Quantum Manufacturing

The Quantum Manufacturing Delta Model

An organization is said to be a quantum manufacturer when it applies quantum computing in its manufacturing processes. Quantum manufacturing exhibits an exponential leap in processes and products. Quantum manufacturing results in improved product design, high precision process control, and a seamless supply chain. In World Class Manufacturing (WCM), quantum computing has brought about a combinational optimization of processes and designs with a large number of parameters thus increasing the precision and accuracy of the final product with a significant impact on costs and overhead reduction. As such in terms of computation comparing the classical to the quantum will be like comparing the Ajua to the Abacus.

The Quantum Advantage

The classical computer uses a bit as its basic unit of information which has only two possible states that are; one or zero (on or off). In contrast, a quantum computer uses a quantum bit also known as a qubit as its basic unit of information. Unlike the bit, the qubit is in a superposition of one or zero (wavering between both states). This superposition of the qubit allows it to carry more information than the bit. This interchange between the two states is enabled by the quantum spin. A quantum spin is an inherent property of a qubit and can be viewed as a compass needle that points either north or south to convey the states of one or zero. The study of the quantum spin about the conveyance of information is referred to as spintronics.

The quantum spin is at the core of the quantum processor and it takes place in the quantum dot. A quantum dot is an artificial atom that is created to host the qubit. It can compare to a transistor which is responsible for hosting the one and zero status of a bit. For quantum processing to take happen a quantum entanglement has to be in place. Quantum entanglement may be referred to as a phenomenon where a pair or group of qubits are generated or interact in ways such that the quantum state of each qubit cannot be described independently of its pair or group. If a pair of qubits are generated such that their total spin is found to be zero, when one particle’s spin is found to point north (Spin up) then the spin of the other particle will be found to point south (Spin down).

The Power of Qubits

This quantum entanglement is what distinguishes quantum computing from classical computing as it enables the fabrication of a large array of qubits capable of robust computations. Because of entanglement, the power of a quantum computer can be approximately doubled by the addition of qubits while that of the classical computer is doubled by doubling the number of bits. Thus the addition of qubits in a quantum processor array results in an exponential increase in processing power.

A single qubit represents two states in superposition (2^1) when a second qubit is added four states are represented simultaneously (2^2), and when a third qubit is added eight states are represented concurrently (2^3), thus the number of states represented is an exponential function of the number of qubits. A quantum processor with fifty qubits (2^50) represents more states than the current supercomputer could achieve. A quantum processor with three hundred qubits (2^300) represents more states than there are atoms in the universe.

Varieties of Quantum Computing

Quantum computing isn't a singular technology; there are various methodologies. Four main types include:

1. Superconducting Quantum Computers: These use superconducting circuits to create qubits.

2. Trapped Ion Quantum Computers: Ions are trapped and manipulated to form qubits.

3. Photonic Quantum Computers: These use photons to represent qubits.

4. Silicon-based Quantum Computers: Qubits are constructed using silicon technology.

Process lock-in

To attain World Class Manufacturing goals of zero waste, zero downtime, and zero accidents, quantum manufacturing presents enormous opportunities to discover new and innovative approaches that capitalize on quantum computing to gain a competitive advantage. Early adopters of quantum manufacturing have locked in advantages that will be enormously difficult to challenge. This is because quantum computing with its exponential state space has provided comprehensive modeling that has dramatically improved processes.

People empowerment

World Class Manufacturing works through group-based activities. This results in a matrix structure organogram, with the globalization of WCM organizations and employees, quantum manufacturing has exponentially improved resource and employee scheduling overcoming the effects of time zone, location, and skills. Quantum manufacturing has brought about an accelerated value of time, smarter and fast decision making, heightened risk management, lower operational costs, and increased revenues. This has resulted in an exponential leap in competitive advantage and future-proofing of manufacturing processes.

Equipment optimization

Quantum manufacturing has resulted in optimization of operations performance and improved cyber security. Rapid design and prototyping, resolving of supply chain issues thus improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and Overall leadership Excellence (OLE) through the increase of data processing speeds, encryption to mitigate data breach risks, and transparency in material handling through robust data processing. As equipment’s become increasingly software-defined, quantum manufacturing will have a significant impact on maintenance, operations, and quality control through progressively sophisticated software validation, verification, and fault analysis.

Quantum manufacturing is poised to redefine the way we approach manufacturing processes, design products, and optimize operations. It leverages the unique capabilities of quantum computing to offer an exponential leap in efficiency, precision, and product quality. While quantum computing is still in its infancy, the potential it holds for revolutionizing the world of industry is undeniable. Early adopters of quantum manufacturing are likely to gain significant competitive advantages that will be challenging for others to match. The path to realizing these quantum manufacturing benefits is an exciting journey that promises to reshape the landscape of industry.