mlops on partitioning clustering models

MLOps for partitioned clustering models integrates DevOps principles with the unique
requirements of unsupervised learning on distributed data
. A partitioned clustering model is trained on distinct subsets (partitions) of a dataset,
such as customer data segmented by region or time, and MLOps ensures this process
is automated, scalable, and reproducible.

The MLOps lifecycle for partitioned clustering

 Automated data pipelines: Set up automated pipelines to ingest, clean, and validate
new data. These pipelines must be able to automatically partition the data based on
your chosen strategy (e.g., hash, range, or list partitioning).

 Data versioning: Use a data version control system like DVC or LakeFS to track
changes to the datasets. This is critical for reproducibility, allowing you to retrain a
model on the exact same data version if needed.

 Feature store: For consistent feature engineering across different partitions and models,
a centralized feature store is essential. It standardizes how features are created, stored,
and retrieved during both training and inference.
 2. Model training and experimentation

 Automated training workflow: Use an orchestration tool like Kubeflow Pipelines or

 Experiment tracking: Log every training run for each partition, including
hyperparameters, code versions, and training metrics, using a tool like MLflow or
Weights & Biases. This tracking is crucial for comparing results and maintaining an
audit trail.

 Distributed training: For large datasets, leverage distributed computing frameworks like
Apache Spark or Ray. This allows you to train multiple cluster models in parallel across
your partitioned data, with orchestration layers like Kubernetes managing the compute
clusters.

3. Continuous integration and validation

 Code quality checks: Automate code validation and run unit tests on all pipeline
components, from data processing scripts to model training logic. This is triggered by
every code change in your Git repository.

 Data validation: Implement automated checks to validate the schema and statistical
properties of new data entering the pipeline. This is particularly important for detecting
data drift, which can impact the quality of your partitions.

 Model validation across segments: Unlike supervised learning where you evaluate
against a single test set, clustering models must be validated across each data partition.
Automated tests should ensure the model's clustering performance remains stable and
consistent for each segment.

4. Deployment and serving

 Containerization: Package each partitioned model with its serving logic and
dependencies into a Docker container. This ensures a consistent runtime environment
across all deployment stages.
 Model registry: Store all your versioned, trained, and packaged models in a central
model registry (like MLflow Model Registry). This allows for easy version management
and approval workflows for promoting models.

 Serving infrastructure: For real-time inference, use a service like TensorFlow Serving or
deploy containerized models on a Kubernetes cluster. For batch inference on newly
arrived data, an automated batch processing job is appropriate.

 Canary and shadow deployment: Test new model versions on live data without
impacting all users. A canary deployment routes a small percentage of traffic to the new
model, while shadow deployment runs the new model silently in parallel with the current
one.

5. Monitoring and continuous improvement

 Continuous monitoring: Monitor the operational performance of your serving

 Data and concept drift detection: Implement checks that trigger an alert or a retraining
pipeline when the distribution of live data changes significantly (data drift) or the
underlying relationships between features evolve (concept drift).

 Automated retraining: Trigger the automated training workflow to retrain the models on
the new, labeled data when performance metrics degrade or drift is detected. This
closes the MLOps loop, ensuring the models stay relevant and effective.

Example: Customer segmentation

 Partitioning: The customer dataset is partitioned by geographical region, such as "North

 Training: An automated pipeline trains a separate K-Means clustering model for each
regional partition. Experiment tracking logs the specific model and hyperparameters
used for each region.
 CI/CD: When a new feature is added, the CI pipeline runs automated tests on the
model's clustering performance for each regional partition.

 Deployment: The three regional models are deployed and versioned in the model
registry. The serving API routes incoming requests to the correct model based on the
customer's location.

 Monitoring: Continuous monitoring tracks the distribution of customer features and the
stability of the clusters within each region. If a new product launch in Europe drastically
changes customer behavior, a drift detector triggers the pipeline to retrain the "Europe"
model.