Ulster University and Rubik Technologies Limited KTP 24_25 R2

A mid-sized manufacturer in Belfast is about to get a new tool that turns its messy spreadsheets and production logs into plain-English business advice. This project, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Ulster University and Rubik Technologies, builds a system called Data Mule 2. It uses large language models—the same type of AI behind chatbots—to analyse complex operational data from factories and warehouses. Many mid-sized manufacturers collect vast amounts of data but lack the in-house analytics teams to make sense of it. Data Mule 2 aims to bridge that gap, translating raw numbers into actionable insights for managers who need to make decisions about production schedules, supply chains, or cost-cutting. If it works, the impact is straightforward: manufacturers that cannot afford data scientists could still get the same kind of strategic intelligence. The project initially targets the UK and Ireland, but the company plans to expand globally. This is applied commercial research, not fundamental science. Success would mean better competitiveness for a sector that quietly underpins much of the economy—without requiring factory floors to hire a single programmer.