AI for Manufacturers: The 'Someday' is Over. Start Doing

For years, AI felt like a future problem for manufacturing. Interesting tech, sure, maybe useful eventually. Stuck in pilot projects that went nowhere. We saw it constantly.

That 'eventually' is now. Thinking about AI isn't the job anymore. Using it is. Shopify's CEO recently laid it out flat for his team: using AI is now a "baseline expectation." His exact words hit hard: "Frankly, I don't think it's feasible to opt out of learning the skill of applying AI in your craft... Stagnation is almost certain, and stagnation is slow-motion failure."

Read that last part again. Stagnation is slow-motion failure.

This isn't sillicon valley fluff. It’s a alarm sounding for manufacturers. Why? Because the upside – and the brutal cost of doing nothing – is higher on your factory floor and across your supply chain than selling t-shirts online.

The Multiplier Effect Isn't Optional, It's Survival

Shopify calls AI a multiplier. We agree. Look at the mess you wrestle with daily: chaotic schedules, BOMs scattered everywhere, quality problems hidden in separate systems, suppliers changing lead times.

Now, imagine tools that don't just show you this chaos but help you cut through it. Tools that help you visualize the real problems, solve them step-by-step, maybe even flag issues before they shut down a line.

That's practical AI, today. It’s not about replacing your people; it’s about giving your best people superpowers. We've all seen that production lead or engineer who just gets it done while others struggle. AI can help level the field, giving everyone the insights your star players seem to pull out of thin air.

The flip side? Your competitor is doing this. If you're still digging through paper or wrestling with clunky spreadsheets while they're using AI-driven tools, you will lose. Simple as that.

AGI Might Be Coming. GenAI is Your Basic Training.

Then there's the talk of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) hitting in 3-5 years, these aren't just timelines from random people, the CEO's of OpenAI, Anthropic and Google Deepmind all agree on this timeline. Believe the timeline or don't, the possibility changes things today. You have 3-5 year goals, right? How does potential AGI factor in? Ignoring it is reckless.

Mastering today's Generative AI isn't just for efficiency gains now. It's basic training for a future that looks radically different. Trying to jump straight to AGI later without getting good at today's AI is like showing up for a marathon having never run a mile.

You need a GenAI strategy now. Not tomorrow. Not next quarter.

What "Baseline Expectation" Means On Your Factory Floor:

Let's translate this:

Stop "Evaluating": The trial period is over. AI works. It's getting better daily. It's good enough for plenty of real work right now. Implement something.
Mandatory Experiments: Don't wait for the perfect system. Throw AI at real problems today. Cleaning up process docs? Analyzing sensor noise? Drafting QC reports? Start. Small wins prove the point.
Justify Not Using AI: Before hiring another analyst, prove AI can't do the job. Before buying complex monitoring gear, prove AI can't make sense of the data you already have. Make "Why aren't we using AI here?" the default question.
Build the Skill: Using AI effectively is a craft. Practice. Learn how to ask good questions (prompt). Iterate. This isn't just for data geeks. It's for engineers, planners, quality managers, operators. It's a fundamental skill, like reading a blueprint.

The Choice: Step Up or Get Left Behind

Manufacturing is already tough. AI will be like pouring petrol on the fire.

Companies that figure out how to use practical AI tools – tools built for the factory floor, tools that empower people – will pull away. Fast. Those who wait, hesitate, or stick to the old ways risk becoming cautionary tales.

Like Shopify's CEO said, business is a treadmill. You run just to stay put. AI just cranked the speed knob to 11.

The time for dipping your toes is over. Build your AI plan. Make using it reflexive. Start getting results. Or prepare for that slow-motion failure.

Let's get moving.

We know coming up with an AI strategy is daunting, that's why we're here to help. Reach out to learn more.

AI for Manufacturers: The 'Someday' is Over. Start Doing

Why having an AI strategy is no longer optional

Tom d'Arcy