ANCHOR INSPECTOR: Intended and unintended effects of a graphics-oriented expert system

Expert systems are not generally used for tasks involving the analysis of perceptual information such as the inspection of parts coming off an assembly line. However, a human-machine system consisting of an expert system and a human inspector together can provide an economical and effective solution to this problem. This paper discusses the design, development, and implementation of ANCHOR INSPECTOR, a graphics-oriented expert system, in a small medical device manufacturing company. Serving as a trainer and assistant, the system was successful in reducing labor costs attributed to experts at the company. Interestingly, information gathered by the expert system supported a decision that resulted in the redesign of the manufacturing process, which eventually led to the obsolescence of the expert system.