Custom Loss Functions in XGBoost Algorithm for Enhanced Critical Error Mitigation in Drill-Wear Analysis of Melamine-Faced Chipboard

Abstract

The advancement of machine learning in industrial applications has necessitated the development of tailored solutions to address specific challenges, particularly in multi-class classification tasks. This study delves into the customization of loss functions within the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm, which is a critical step in enhancing the algorithm’s performance for specific applications. Our research is motivated by the need for precision and efficiency in the industrial domain, where the implications of misclassification can be substantial. We focus on the drill-wear analysis of melamine-faced chipboard, a common material in furniture production, to demonstrate the impact of custom loss functions. The paper explores several variants of Weighted Softmax Loss Functions, including Edge Penalty and Adaptive Weighted Softmax Loss, to address the challenges of class imbalance and the heightened importance of accurately classifying edge classes. Our findings reveal that these custom loss functions significantly reduce critical errors in classification without compromising the overall accuracy of the model. This research not only contributes to the field of industrial machine learning by providing a nuanced approach to loss function customization but also underscores the importance of context-specific adaptations in machine learning algorithms. The results showcase the potential of tailored loss functions in balancing precision and efficiency, ensuring reliable and effective machine learning solutions in industrial settings.