AI large models are trending, but manufacturing executives have one top concern: Are our process parameters, customer data, and cost information safe when sent to the cloud?
The answer is clear: manufacturing must choose on-premises deployment. Only when data stays within the factory can you achieve true security and control.
Why Manufacturing Must Deploy On-Premises
Manufacturing differs from internet industries—data security is a non-negotiable baseline, not an option.
| Comparison | Cloud AI (ChatGPT, etc.) | On-Premises AI |
|---|---|---|
| Data Storage | Stored on third-party cloud | Stored in factory data center ✅ |
| Network Dependency | Requires internet, unavailable offline | Works on intranet, no external dependency ✅ |
| Compliance Risk | Data residency issues, difficult certification | Compliant with MLPS 2.0, GDPR ✅ |
| HQ Audits (Japanese MNCs) | Difficult to pass security audits | Data controllable, audit-ready ✅ |
| Long-term Cost | Per-user subscription, ongoing payments | One-time investment, more economical ✅ |
| Customization | Generic model, limited customization | Industry-specific training ✅ |
💡 Conclusion: For manufacturing AI, on-premises deployment is the only viable choice. Cloud AI suits personal use, not enterprise production scenarios.
What is MaxKB?
MaxKB is an open-source enterprise knowledge base system by FIT2CLOUD. It transforms your internal documents (process manuals, operating procedures, historical fault records) into AI-answerable knowledge.
Core Features:
- Document Q&A: Upload PDF/Word/Excel, AI automatically understands and answers questions
- Intelligent Assistant: Integrates with WeCom/Lark, available to all employees
- Knowledge Management: Categorization, tagging, version control
- Access Control: Different departments see different content
Typical Use Cases:
- New employee asks "How to adjust injection molding parameters?" → AI finds answers from process manuals
- When equipment fails, ask "How to handle alarm code E05 on Machine H-3?" → AI retrieves answers from maintenance records
- Customer asks "Are your products RoHS compliant?" → AI finds answers from compliance documents
How to Deploy?
Hardware Requirements
- Server: 1 unit (CPU: 8+ cores, RAM: 32GB+, Storage: 500GB+)
- GPU (optional): For large model inference, recommend NVIDIA T4/A10
- Network: Factory intranet sufficient, no internet required
Deployment Steps
- Environment Preparation (1-2 days): Install Linux, Docker, database
- System Deployment (1 day): One-click Docker deployment of MaxKB
- Knowledge Import (3-5 days): Upload documents, train model, test Q&A performance
- Integration (2-3 days): Connect to WeCom/Lark, configure permissions
- Go-Live & Training (1 day): Company-wide training, collect feedback
Total Timeline: 2-3 weeks (standard) / 4-6 weeks (customized)
Integration with WeCom/Lark
MaxKB supports integration with WeCom and Lark. Employees don't need to open a new system—they can ask questions directly in the chat window.
Integration Methods:
- WeCom: Create app → Configure Webhook → Forward messages to MaxKB
- Lark: Create bot → Configure API → Forward messages to MaxKB
💡 User Experience: Employees @AI assistant in WeCom, type their question, and get answers within 3 seconds. As simple as asking a colleague.
Cost Analysis
| Solution | Year 1 Cost | 3-Year Cost | Data Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Enterprise (50 users) | ~¥300K | ~¥900K | ❌ Data in cloud |
| On-Premises MaxKB | ~¥150-250K | ~¥200-300K | ✅ Data on-premises |
Conclusion: On-premises deployment may cost slightly more in Year 1, but the 3-year total cost is lower, with full data security and control.
About Yungu
Suzhou Yungu is a FIT2CLOUD Platinum Partner, providing one-stop MaxKB services:
- Hardware selection + deployment (server, GPU configuration recommendations)
- System installation + commissioning (Docker deployment, database configuration)
- Knowledge import + training (document organization, model fine-tuning)
- Integration (WeCom/Lark, permission configuration)
- Ongoing operations (system updates, performance optimization)