Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA
AI Agent
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent (also known as an AI assistant) is a highly intelligent, autonomous system that independently solves specific and complex tasks. Based on generative AI, AI agents act autonomously and proactively. They independently observe their environment, create strategic plans, execute actions, and continuously learn from their experiences.
How does an AI agent work in practice?
AI agents can be used flexibly in different areas. In practice, they function according to a modular architecture consisting of the following building blocks:
- Prompt (task): The prompt is the work order given to the AI agent, e.g., “Analyze faults in the production system”, “Create a quotation for a customer group” or “Proactively and autonomously monitor production line x and report regularly on the status and immediately in the event of irregularities”.
- LLM (language model): A powerful language model such as GPT-4, Claude, or LLaMA understands the task of the command and generates appropriate responses, plans, or suggestions.
- Tools: The agent uses additional tools such as databases, external programs, or specialized AI models to process and analyze information and actively control processes.
- Memory: The agent remembers contexts, such as email histories, customer preferences, or previous processing statuses, in order to solve tasks more efficiently.
- Orchestration (control): A control unit coordinates the processes between LLM, tools, and memory and ensures the correct sequence.
- Interface (user interface): The AI agent is accessible to users via chatbots, forms, or web interfaces.
- Evaluation (result assessment): After completion, the agent checks whether the target has been achieved. In addition, regular control reports can be created to keep the results traceable and verifiable.
In which areas can AI agents be used?
COMMUNICATION, SALES, AND MARKETING
What tasks does the AI agent perform in customer contact?
An AI agent processes customer inquiries automatically via chat, email, or web forms quickly and around the clock. It understands requests in natural language, provides appropriate answers, or forwards more complex cases in a structured manner. Based on CRM data, it creates individual offers, product recommendations, or price suggestions. In sales, it qualifies leads, evaluates inquiries, and automates service processes such as returns, shipment tracking, or complaints.
Why is it worth using an AI agent in customer contact?
An AI agent in customer service brings measurable benefits:
- Cost reduction through automation of manual tasks
- Improved response times through immediate processing around the clock
- Increased customer satisfaction through fast, personal communication
- Increased sales with targeted offers and recommendations
- Reduced workload for employees, who can focus on complex cases
- Efficient data usage through automatic analysis and linking
What are some specific examples of AI agents in communication, sales, and marketing?
1. AI agent for sales
Evaluates incoming inquiries, asks for missing information, and forwards qualified leads directly to CRM. Sales teams can focus on the most promising contacts.
2. AI agent for marketing
Analyzes customer behavior, identifies purchasing potential, and automatically sends personalized offers via email or social media, for example. This increases the relevance of the message, reduces wastage, and increases conversion rates.
3. AI agent for customer management
Identifies potential escalations early on and automatically initiates measures before the customer has to intervene. This improves customer loyalty and service quality in the long term.
How much does it cost to develop an AI agent?
We offer customized services starting at $45,000. Funding programs such as BAFA or KfW offer subsidies of up to 45%. We would be happy to advise you on the appropriate funding and assist you with the application process.
Who benefits from an AI agent in customer contact?
Companies with high inquiry volumes, standardized service processes, and a large number of contacts that are difficult to manage operationally benefit particularly. Whether you are a medium-sized business or a large enterprise, wherever customer contact plays a role, an AI agent provides noticeable relief, efficiency, and new revenue potential.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
What tasks does the AI agent perform in knowledge management?
An AI agent in knowledge management ensures that knowledge is accessible, actively used, structured, and further developed. It answers queries based on internal data sources, recognizes connections, and creates context-related content such as summaries, FAQs, or instructions. The AI agent identifies outdated information, uncovers knowledge gaps, and suggests new content or generates it independently. Through interfaces to existing systems (e.g., intranet, DMS, CRM), it ensures that relevant knowledge is available at the right time and in the right place.
Why is it worth using an AI agent in knowledge management?
- Faster access to relevant knowledge instead of long search processes
- Reduces information silos through cross-system networking
- Automatically identifies and closes knowledge gaps
- Up-to-date information through version comparison and feedback evaluation
- Relieves teams by providing automated answers to standard questions
- Improved onboarding and training through targeted support
- Increases efficiency by providing knowledge in context
- Self-optimization through analysis of usage patterns
What are some specific use cases?
1.KI Agent for intelligent knowledge delivery
Provides employees with context-related knowledge via chat or system integration, automatically creates step-by-step instructions, and keeps content up to date through version comparisons.
2. AI agent for continuous process improvement
Supports employees by identifying patterns in production data, documenting weak points, and generating usable experience-based knowledge, e.g., through automatically traceable improvement suggestions and process documentation.
How much does it cost to develop an AI agent for knowledge management?
We offer customized services starting at $45,000. Funding programs such as BAFA or KfW offer subsidies of up to 45%. We would be happy to advise you on the appropriate funding and assist you with the application process.
Who benefits from an AI agent in knowledge management?
For companies that have a lot of expertise but often leave it untapped. Especially for organizations with distributed documentation, frequent queries, changing employees, or complex processes. The agent helps make knowledge accessible, keep it up to date, and use it across teams without having to maintain everything manually.
PRODUCTION PROCESSES
What tasks does the AI agent perform in production processes?
An AI agent performs a variety of tasks in production environments: It monitors machine data and production metrics in real time, detects deviations or malfunctions at an early stage, and automatically initiates appropriate measures, such as adjusting process parameters, rescheduling processes, or escalating issues to the responsible team. It connects systems such as MES, ERP, or IoT platforms, compares planned and actual statuses, and provides data-based recommendations for action. This makes the AI agent the central controlling authority for efficient, stable, and flexible production processes.
Why is it worth using an AI agent in production processes?
- Fewer downtimes thanks to early anomaly and fault detection
- Increases efficiency through automated adjustment of parameters and processes
- Improves responsiveness, e.g., in the case of rush orders, bottlenecks, or failures
- Relieves specialist staff through independent monitoring and decision-making
- Increases transparency through continuous analysis and feedback from the process
- Links systems such as MES, ERP, and IoT platforms for seamless processes
- Learns from experience to optimize processes in the long term
What are some specific application examples?
1. AI agent for production planning and control
Automatically optimizes sequences, setup times, and capacities. Responds in real time to changes, thereby increasing utilization and adherence to schedules.
2. AI agent for quality monitoring & plant condition
Detects quality deviations or malfunctions at an early stage, adjusts process parameters, and reports problems such as faulty material or machine failures.
3. AI agent for assisted maintenance
Guides maintenance or repair steps via chatbot. If the process is inefficient, the agent automatically creates service tickets for internal or external contacts.
How much does it cost to develop an AI agent for production processes?
We offer customized services starting at $70,000. Funding programs such as BAFA or KfW offer subsidies of up to 45%. We would be happy to advise you on the appropriate funding and assist you with the application process.
Who benefits from an AI agent in production processes?
For manufacturing companies that want to make their processes more stable, faster, and more flexible. Companies with complex manufacturing processes, frequent product changes, or fluctuating capacities benefit from an AI agent. Also possible without a database: The agent can be trained and tested using synthetic data without disrupting ongoing processes.
How does a use case become a ready-to-use AI agent?
The implementation of an AI agent is not a theoretical concept, but a practical solution that can be realized in a modular and targeted manner to meet your specific requirements.
At Fraunhofer IPA, we accompany you from the initial idea to the concrete application:
- Identify use cases: Together, we analyze where the greatest benefits can be achieved in your company.
- Define goals: In consultation with you, we determine the specific added value that the AI agent should deliver.
- Developing the system design: Based on your data structure, IT landscape, and processes, we select the appropriate prompt, the suitable language model (LLM), and the necessary tools.
- Combining technology and organization: Our solutions are based on sound criteria such as data structure, system landscape, maturity of processes, and concrete benefit expectations.
You benefit from our many years of experience in research and industrial practice projects in the field of AI assistance systems and information management.
Use AI agents for your company
Arrange a no-obligation initial consultation now – we will show you the potential an AI agent can offer in your specific application.