Toward Knowledge-Guided AI for Inverse Design in Manufacturing: A Perspective on Domain, Physics, and Human-AI Synergy

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping inverse design in manufacturing, enabling high-performance discovery in materials, products, and processes. However, purely data-driven approaches often struggle in realistic manufacturing settings characterized by sparse data, high-dimensional design spaces, and complex constraints. This perspective proposes an integrated framework built on three complementary pillars: domain knowledge to establish physically meaningful objectives and constraints while removing variables with limited relevance, physics-informed machine learning to enhance generalization under limited or biased data, and large language model-based interfaces to support intuitive, human-centered interaction. Using injection molding as an illustrative example, we demonstrate how these components can operate in practice and conclude by highlighting key challenges for applying such approaches in realistic manufacturing environments.