Zeeshan Karamat: Building a More Sustainable and Efficient Future For Manufacturing

Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and an online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs. 

Spiffy here with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Zeeshan Karamat, the co-founder and CTO of 36ZERO Vision. Let’s learn about what’s happening there and how Zeeshan is making a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: Hi Zeeshan, thanks a million for talking to me today. Tell me, what challenge are you addressing through 36ZERO Vision?

Zeeshan: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! Our AI solutions significantly boost manufacturing quality and sustainability by automating visual inspections. This not only elevates accuracy and speed, thus reducing waste and conserving resources, but also helps in early defect detection, minimizing material usage, and environmental impact. By reallocating human resources from repetitive tasks to more value-added activities, we also improve productivity and job satisfaction. Thus, our technology fosters a more sustainable, efficient, and worker-friendly manufacturing environment.

Spiffy: Need of the hour! What motivates you to do it?

Zeeshan: My primary motivation stems from a desire to leverage my skills towards creating a more sustainable manufacturing industry—I am deeply committed to enhancing production processes and maximizing the efficiency of our planet's resources. However, I will say that the technical challenges associated with this goal were immense. Tackling these complex problems required a substantial effort and a deep dive into innovative solutions. This journey has not only been about solving technical issues, but also about contributing to a more sustainable and efficient future for manufacturing.

Spiffy: What is the impact of your work?

Zeeshan: My work primarily aids manufacturing companies by enhancing their quality control processes through AI-powered visual inspection solutions. This technology helps reduce waste and improve production efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable use of resources. Additionally, it alleviates the workload on employees by taking over repetitive, tedious tasks, thereby allowing them to focus on more critical and engaging work. Ultimately, this not only supports businesses in achieving higher productivity and cost savings, but also promotes a more sustainable and employee-friendly manufacturing environment.

Spiffy: Tell me about a recent organization milestone or initiative and the impact it makes on your community

Zeeshan: A key recent milestone for us was establishing partnerships with industry leaders like Bosch and SAP, and launching our AI-powered visual inspection solutions with enterprises such as Mercedes, Leoni, and Siemens. This initiative significantly enhances our integration into the industrial sector, amplifying the adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices. The impact of these collaborations is profound, offering advanced quality control, reducing waste, and improving efficiency across manufacturing processes. These achievements not only validate our technology's effectiveness, but also pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient manufacturing industry.

Spiffy: Is there anything else you would love to tell our audience?

Zeeshan: One story that stands out involves implementing our AI technology in an automotive manufacturer's production line, which struggled with detecting minor defects. Our solution halved their defect rate, significantly boosting both efficiency and quality. This example not only demonstrates our technology's capability, but also reflects our commitment to enhancing manufacturing sustainability and efficiency. It's a testament to how innovation can solve industry challenges, underscoring the real-world impact of our work beyond mere technical achievements.

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Zeeshan—it’s been an honor!

Zeeshan Karamat is the co-founder and CTO at 36ZERO Vision and a celebrated hackathon champion with more than 100 wins, including Microsoft, Siemens, and Google. Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as a top life coach, she is an expert in cloud architecture and machine learning, and leads innovative AI projects. Zeeshan is passionate about weekend machine learning and programming challenges. (Nominated by Max Kahn. First published on the Ladderworks website on March 14, 2024.)

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.