Background and motivation
In today’s highly competitive business world, efficiency and innovation are key. AI technologies such as Large Language Models (LLMs) can help speed up monotonous or time-consuming tasks so that our employees can focus on value-adding activities. At Sulzer GmbH, we have intensively investigated how they can be usefully integrated into companies.
Vision and mission
Our vision is for all Sulzer employees to use AI tools as a matter of course in their day-to-day work. To achieve this, we need to break down organizational barriers such as a lack of internal structures, technical barriers such as concerns about data security, and mental barriers such as skepticism about AI.
Our mission is to empower and motivate employees to find suitable use cases and use the tools effectively.
Approaches to the use of LLMs
We have identified three promising approaches for using LLMs such as ChatGPT profitably in companies:
People empowerment
All employees are given access to a powerful LLM such as ChatGPT after a brief introduction to the usage rules and permitted usage scenarios of LLMs. Through active feedback, we determine in which use cases ChatGPT is used (e.g. creation of user stories). These use cases are then shared with all employees via an intranet page.
Advantages:
- Individual use: Each employee can use the tool individually and profitably.
- Knowledge sharing: Everyone can benefit from the experiences and insights of others when using the Assistant.
- Quick identification of use cases: Use cases for ChatGPT are quickly identified and an up-to-date list of these scenarios is provided.
- Automation potential: Sub-steps in business processes that can be automated are identified.
Business process streamlining
Automatable sub-steps of business processes identified by the previous approach are quickly checked for validity using an LLM (proof of concept) and integrated into the existing IT infrastructure if necessary.
Advantages:
- Increased efficiency: by automating individual steps in business processes, the effectiveness of the company is increased.
- Extended automation options: Processes that could not be automated before can now be automated.
- Cost reduction: Processes that could already be automated can now be carried out more cost-effectively.
Testing the limits
This approach focuses on the automation or support of complex tasks, such as the implementation of complex applications. For this purpose, ChatGPT & Co. uses tools for creating folder and file structures, executing code and using command line tools.
Advantages:
- Savings potential: High savings potential with successful automation of complex business processes.
- Knowledge building: Building and maintaining knowledge and experience of the latest developments in LLMs.
Challenges and solutions
The use of language models such as ChatGPT offers many advantages, but also brings some challenges. At Sulzer, we have developed innovative solutions to overcome these challenges and realize the full potential of LLMs.
Challenge: Company-specific knowledge
A major problem with the use of LLMs is that these models cannot access the specific knowledge and internal processes of a company. This can limit the effectiveness of AI in company-specific applications.
Solution approach: Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)
To solve this problem, we at Sulzer have implemented RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) technology. This innovative method combines our company’s process knowledge and specific data with the capabilities of LLMs. By integrating company-specific databases and knowledge sources into the AI workflow, we can ensure that the answers generated are not only correct, but also highly relevant and specific to our internal processes.
Advantages of the RAG solution:
- Targeted answers: by combining LLMs with company-specific data sources, we can generate precise and contextualized answers that are directly tailored to our business needs.
- Increased efficiency: Employees gain quick access to relevant knowledge and can therefore work more efficiently.
- Continuous improvement: By regularly updating and expanding the knowledge databases, the RAG solution always remains up to date and adapts to the changing requirements of the company.
How can Sulzer GmbH use LLMs profitably?
Sulzer GmbH can implement the approaches described to identify further use cases that can be used internally and also suggested to customers. This leads to a positive internal and external impact.
Strategic advice and support
Sulzer GmbH can use its knowledge and expertise to offer other companies or specific departments strategic advice and support in implementing these methods. This opens up additional opportunities to understand and profitably utilize the benefits of LLMs.
Through the targeted application of these approaches, Sulzer GmbH can not only optimize its own processes, but also act as a pioneer in the use of LLMs and offer valuable support to other companies.
Conclusion
The targeted application of LLMs such as ChatGPT offers Sulzer GmbH the opportunity to optimize its internal processes and at the same time act as a pioneer in the use of AI technologies. By implementing the approaches described, we can not only achieve our own efficiency and quality goals, but also offer valuable support to other companies.
Discover the future with Sulzer
Would you like to learn more about how Sulzer GmbH uses innovative technologies to optimize our internal processes and increase efficiency? Browse through our website for more information about our projects and initiatives or contact us directly to learn more about our innovation culture!
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