“From visual inspection to digital excellence in Automotive risk management decision-making”
DigitaLLeather doo was founded in late 2021 with the support of the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia, under the Mini Grant program, as a deep-tech startup combining artificial intelligence (Machine Learning and Computer Vision) with strong industrial expertise.
Our initial mission was to increase the utilization of industrial leather in manufacturing processes through the development of smart systems for visual inspection and digital quality management.
Over the years of development, we have built several functional prototypes and collaborated with renowned partners from the Automotive industry, such as AutoStop Interiors and Yan Feng, gaining deep insights into the relationship between quality, data, and decision-making in production.
Support and recognition through innovation programs
Our research has been recognized and supported by international organizations and development institutions. In addition to the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia, the DigitaLLeather project has also received support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the Green Agenda in Serbia, where we demonstrated how AI technologies can contribute to the circular economy and the reduction of waste in manufacturing.
This support has enabled us to gradually move from the development of hardware systems toward the creation of complex digital solutions for analysis, optimization, and decision-making in industrial processes.
Evolution of the idea: from inspection to prevention
Through years of experience with the industry, it became clear that excellence in quality does not begin in the production line, but rather in the way teams anticipate, analyze, and manage project risks.
This experience led us to a key question:
“How can we apply the knowledge of risk analysis that we have developed over years in both industry and academia, in the form of intelligent software that actually makes decisions — not just reports?”
From the very beginning, our team has consisted of FMEA methodology experts who are:
🎓 PhD holders specializing in the application of FMEA in the automotive industry,
📜Certified by AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group),
🏭 and possess years of experience in implementing FMEA analyses in real industrial systems through both operational and consulting work.
In addition, members of our research and development team have authored over 20 published scientific papers in the fields of risk management, quality, and the application of artificial intelligence in industry, providing a foundation that is deeply rooted in science while remaining focused on practical results.
Over the past few years, we have also developed and commercialized several custom industrial software solutions that helped co-finance the development of our deep-tech AI-based leather inspection system. This experience taught us how to successfully combine research, engineering, and market needs into functional and commercially sustainable products.
The key moment of transformation
The real turning point came with the emergence of new artificial intelligence technologies — particularly LLM (Large Language Models) and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation).
These technologies enable computer systems not only to understand textual information, but also to find relevant data, connect knowledge from multiple sources, and generate conclusions in a way that resembles human reasoning.
For our team, this was a clear signal that the right moment had arrived.
We recognized the opportunity to combine these new AI technologies with our FMEA expertise and our proven experience in developing industrial software solutions.
Thus, FMEA EXCELLENCE was born — the result of knowledge, timing, and innovation, designed to transform FMEA analysis into an intelligent assistant for real-time decision-making.
FMEA EXCELLENCE – Risk-based decision-making tool
FMEA EXCELLENCE is an innovative SaaS platform that transforms the way engineers, quality teams, and production management analyze, understand, and manage risks in manufacturing.
Based on the internationally recognized AIAG & VDA FMEA methodology and IATF16949 automotive standard, this software combines artificial intelligence, financial analytics, and strategic priorities, turning the traditional FMEA table into a dynamic, interactive decision-making system.
Unlike traditional approaches that rely on static documents, FMEA EXCELLENCE acts as an intelligent assistant that helps teams in real time to:
•Identify and rank risks according to their financial and time impact,
•Recommend optimal corrective and preventive actions,
• And connect all project participants through a unified, collaborative process.
Our mission is clear:
to make FMEA a driver of prevention, efficiency, and excellence in decision-making — not just a document created for audits.
FMEA EXCELLENCE not only digitalizes and automates the risk analysis process but also actively optimizes key success factors: time, cost, and strategic focus. Through advanced AI analytics and smart prioritization algorithms, the system:
⏱️ Reduces the time required to create and maintain FMEA analyses by up to 60%,
💰 Increases the reliability of risk assessment and reduces hidden costs by 10% to 40%,
🎯 Enables management to make faster, data-driven decisions rather than assumptions.
In practice, FMEA EXCELLENCE bridges the analytical precision of engineers with the strategic perspective of management, creating a common language between development, quality, and production teams.
The official beginning of a new chapter
FMEA EXCELLENCE was officially launched in February 2025, as the result of years of research, development, and collaboration with industrial partners. This project represents the evolution of DigitaLLeather — from a hardware-based quality control solution to an advanced digital platform that connects people, data, and decisions.
