AI for shop floors and back offices that move physical things.
Job shop, process, OEM, contract. We build the quoting, quality, and supplier workflows that keep your operations team out of email and on the floor.
Pick the firm shape closest to yours
Each card is a real persona, a real day-in-the-life narrative, a real automation playbook, and a real example with a number on it. Click in to see how the platform runs inside a firm shaped like yours.
Discrete Job Shop / Make-to-Order
Custom or low-volume / high-mix manufacturer. Quote → engineering → production → ship. Quote turnaround is the competitive moat.
Estimated annual value
Wins 15-30% more bids + reduces estimator time per quote 60-80% at a $10M revenue shop = $1.5-3M of additional bookings + $200-400k of recovered estimator capacity.
Process Manufacturer
Batch / continuous process manufacturer (food, chemical, pharma-adjacent, materials). Recipe-driven. QC + traceability + regulatory are non-negotiable.
Estimated annual value
Saves ~4,000-6,000 QA hours/year + eliminates COA-driven shipping delays at a 200-shipment/week food manufacturer = ~$300-600k/yr in saved labor + on-time delivery improvements.
OEM Manufacturer
Manufacturer of finished goods sold under their own brand. Production planning + demand sensing + channel coordination is the work.
Estimated annual value
Reduces stockouts 30-50% + reduces safety stock 15-25% at a $50M OEM = $1-3M of additional captured revenue + working capital benefits.
Contract Manufacturer / CMO
Manufacturing for outside brands. Customer + product mix is wide. Customer onboarding + change-control + per-customer QA is the operational spine.
Estimated annual value
Compresses onboarding 30-45 days + recovers ~600-900 hours/year of QA/operations time at an 8-customer/year CMO = $400-800k of accelerated revenue + capacity to take 50% more new customers.
The work that's eating your team
We're not going to tell you manufacturing is broken. You know what's broken. We're going to tell you which parts the system can run without you.
ERP, MES, QMS, and CRM don't actually talk to each other
You bought best-of-breed in each surface. Now data lives in 5 systems. AI is the connective tissue that pulls real-time visibility across all of them.
Quote turnaround is the moat
First quote in wins ~30% more often. Most shops take days. AI compresses to hours without sacrificing accuracy.
Status updates are 40% of customer service time
Customers want 'where's my order?' AI auto-pushes status from MES events; calls to CS drop 50-70%.
QC is a manual paper-trail until it isn't
Batch records, COAs, traceability, assembled by hand because the systems don't generate them automatically. AI does the assembly; QC reviews.
Vendor risk is invisible until a shipment is late
Most shops find out about vendor delivery problems when the part doesn't show up. AI monitors vendor commitments + ATP signals proactively.
Forecasting is a quarterly exercise in optimism
Channel data is updated weekly, looked at quarterly, acted on never. AI normalizes channels in real-time and surfaces leading indicators.
How the AI Operating System works inside a manufacturing firm
One nervous system, written in your firm's language. n8n is the backbone. Zapier is the glue. Supabase + Claude is memory and reasoning. The result is a single layer that thinks, remembers, and acts on behalf of your team, without ripping out a single system you already use.
brain
Brain, Decision & orchestration
n8n + Anthropic Claude. Quote drafting, demand sensing, COA assembly, anomaly classification, customer service triage.
- ›RFQ triage + quote drafting
- ›Demand signal interpretation
- ›QC anomaly classification
- ›Customer comms triage
memory
Memory, ERP + MES + QMS connective tissue
Supabase. Stores cross-system state and history (every quote, order, batch, lot, vendor, customer interaction). ERP/MES/QMS remain source of truth.
- ›Cross-system state cache
- ›Quote + order history
- ›Batch + lot traceability
- ›Customer + vendor interaction history
nervous system
Nervous System, Production + planning + cycle triggers
MES events (start/complete/QC), planning cycles, customer cycles (reporting cadence), forecast refresh cycles, vendor PO commitments.
- ›Production status events
- ›Planning cycle triggers
- ›Vendor commitment monitoring
- ›Customer reporting cycles
hands
Hands, Action layer
Sends customer comms, generates documents (quotes / COAs / batch records / reports), writes back to ERP, posts to dashboards.
- ›Customer comms with audit
- ›Document generation
- ›ERP write-back
- ›Dashboard updates
eyes
Eyes, Ingest & observation
Real-time MES + LIMS data, channel POS + B2B + Amazon data, RFQ + PO inbox parsing, vendor portal monitoring.
- ›Real-time process data
- ›Channel data normalization
- ›RFQ + PO parsing
- ›Vendor portal monitoring
The point of separating these layers is reusability. The same Brain and Memory power your client acquisition, document handling, and compliance workflows. New automations are written as new Hands , not as a new system. That's the difference between an AI Operating System and a stack of one-off Zaps.
The manufacturing automation catalog
Each entry below is a named workflow, not a category, not a promise. Every row describes what the workflow actually does in verb form, what it touches, and how it slots into your stack.
Quote-to-cash
From RFQ to signed PO without estimators starting from a blank page.
RFQ triage & routing
Inbound RFQs auto-classified by part family + complexity, routed to the right estimator with prior similar quotes surfaced.
BrainMemoryRFQ inbox webhookQuote drafter (with prior-similar reference)
From RFQ + similar prior quotes + current vendor pricing + standard margin, drafts a quote response queued for estimator review.
BrainMemoryRFQ classified60-80% reduction in quote turnaroundQuote follow-up sequence
After a quote is sent, scheduled follow-ups happen automatically (3 days, 7 days, 14 days) until customer responds.
NervousHandsQuote sentPO acknowledgement & order setup
Customer PO arrives → parsed → matched to quote → order created in ERP → acknowledgement sent.
BrainEyesPO received
Production planning & scheduling
Demand-driven planning with real-time channel signals.
Multi-channel demand sensing
Normalizes channel data (POS, distributor, Amazon, DTC, B2B) into unified demand per SKU; surfaces leading indicators 2-4 weeks ahead.
EyesBrainMemoryDaily cronForecast auto-refresher
Updates rolling forecast daily as new channel data arrives; surfaces variance for review.
BrainMemoryDaily cronProduction plan drafter
Drafts the next-period production plan from forecast + capacity + ATP; queued for plant manager review.
BrainMemoryWeekly planning cycleChannel allocation decision surface
When capacity is constrained, surfaces channel-specific allocation decisions (which customer gets the constrained inventory) for sales-ops review.
BrainMemoryCapacity threshold breach
Customer service & order status
Self-service status visibility cuts CS load 50-70%.
Customer order status push
Order status events from MES (in production, in QC, packaged, shipped, delivered) auto-pushed to customer via their preferred channel.
NervousHandsMES status eventCustomer FAQ assistant
Web chat / SMS / email AI assistant handling common 'where's my order?', spec questions, lead time inquiries; escalates anything sensitive.
BrainHandsInbound queryExpedite request workflow
Customer expedite request → system surfaces feasibility (capacity / inventory / vendor lead time) + proposed expedite fee → CS confirms with customer.
BrainMemoryExpedite requestCustomer-specific reporting cadence
Per-customer monthly performance reports (on-time, quality, ship volume) drafted automatically and queued for account manager review.
BrainMemoryMonth-end cron per customer
Quality, compliance & traceability
QC + compliance + traceability assembled in real-time, not after the fact.
Batch record assembler
Process: assembles batch records from MES + LIMS + operator tablets in real-time, surfaces missing data immediately.
EyesBrainMemoryBatch start eventCOA generator per shipment
Process: generates customer-specific COA from underlying batch QC data in customer's required format; queued for QA review.
BrainMemoryHandsShipment staged~30-45 min/COA savedQC disposition workflow
Discrete: failed-QC parts trigger structured disposition workflow (rework / scrap / use-as-is / vendor return) with documented decision and approver.
BrainHandsQC fail eventRecall trace simulator
Process: assembles full traceability for any lot in seconds (incoming ingredient lots → batch → finished goods → shipments). Used for customer audits + internal recall sims.
BrainMemoryOn-demand queryProcess anomaly detector
Process: surfaces out-of-spec readings, unusual ingredient consumption, yield variance in real-time so production responds before yield is lost.
EyesBrainReal-time process data
Vendor & supply chain
Proactive vendor risk surface + standardized PO + receiving workflows.
Vendor delivery risk monitor
Monitors PO commitments + vendor confirmation + carrier tracking; surfaces at-risk deliveries 5-10 days before missed receipt.
EyesBrainDaily cron + vendor portal syncVendor lot validator
Process: incoming ingredient lots checked against vendor COA + required specifications; rejects flagged for QA review before put-away.
EyesBrainReceipt eventPO change-control workflow
Customer-driven PO changes (qty, delivery, spec) flow through structured change control with approver routing + downstream impact analysis.
BrainMemoryPO change requestVendor performance tracker
Per-vendor on-time, quality, and pricing performance tracked continuously; surfaces underperforming vendors for sourcing review.
MemoryHandsWeekly cron
Customer onboarding (CMO-specific)
Compressing the new-customer ramp.
Customer onboarding orchestrator
CMO: new customer signed → 8-12 phase onboarding workflow with auto-generated documents and chase-on-deadline.
BrainMemoryHandsNew customer signedChange order workflow
CMO: customer-initiated formula / packaging / label changes flow through structured change control with regulatory + production impact assessment.
BrainMemoryChange request receivedAudit prep packet assembler
CMO: customer audit scheduled → packet assembled from prior audits + intervening change orders + current operations data.
BrainMemoryAudit scheduledCustomer-specific traceability
CMO: any customer's product line traceable in seconds from raw ingredient through finished shipment.
BrainMemoryOn-demand
What the first 6 months look like
We don't ship a 30-workflow operating system on day one, that never works. We ship in phases, each with a measurable success criterion before the next phase begins.
Phase 1 · Weeks 1-4
Foundation: cross-system visibility + quote acceleration
- Cross-system state cache live (ERP + MES + QMS)
- RFQ triage & routing live
- Quote drafter live with prior-similar reference
- Vendor delivery risk monitor live
- Customer order status push live
Success criterion
By end of Phase 1, quote turnaround drops 50%+, customer 'where's my order' calls drop 30%+, and the team has unified cross-system visibility for the first time.
Phase 2 · Weeks 5-12
Quality + compliance + traceability
- Batch record assembler live (process)
- COA generator per shipment live (process)
- QC disposition workflow live (discrete)
- Recall trace simulator live (process)
- Process anomaly detector live (process)
Success criterion
By end of Phase 2, COAs ship within 5 minutes of QA review, batch records assemble in real-time, and recall traceability is a 30-second query.
Phase 3 · Weeks 13-20
Demand sensing + planning
- Multi-channel demand sensing live (OEM)
- Forecast auto-refresher live
- Production plan drafter live
- Channel allocation decision surface live
- Distributor / customer performance tracking live
Success criterion
By end of Phase 3, forecast accuracy improves 30-50% and stockouts decrease similarly while safety stock requirements drop.
Phase 4 · Weeks 21-26
Customer + vendor lifecycle
- Customer onboarding orchestrator live (CMO)
- Change order workflow live (CMO)
- Customer FAQ assistant live
- Vendor performance tracker live
- Customer-specific reporting cadence live
Success criterion
By end of Phase 4, new customer onboarding compresses 30-50%, customer service load drops 50-70%, and vendor performance is continuously visible.
What the AI is allowed to do, and what it isn't
Honest compliance copy beats aspirational compliance copy. Below: the frameworks we're configured to support, the controls we ship with, and the explicit boundaries, actions the AI never takes without a human signing off.
FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (process / pharma-adjacent)
Electronic records of batch production must meet Part 11 standards (electronic signatures, audit trail, system access controls).
- Electronic signature workflow with WORM-compliant storage
- Complete audit trail of every record creation/modification
- Role-based access with documented review cycles
- Documented change control on all system configurations
Boundary: AI never electronically signs a batch record. Always a qualified human.
FSMA / SQF / BRC / SQF (food)
Food manufacturers operate under multiple overlapping regulatory + customer-required schemes for food safety + traceability.
- Full traceability from ingredient lot through finished goods + shipment
- HACCP plan integration with real-time monitoring
- Recall trace simulator for periodic preparedness drills
- Allergen control integration into batch workflow
ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 / AS9100 (discrete)
Quality management certifications carry document control + corrective action + traceability requirements.
- Document control with version history + access tracking
- CAR/CAPA workflow with structured root-cause analysis
- Internal audit calendar + finding tracking
- Management review documentation
SOC 2 Type II (platform-level)
Customer brands (especially in pharma-adjacent and electronics CMO) increasingly require SOC 2.
- SOC 2 Type II audit on the underlying infrastructure
- Quarterly access reviews
- Documented incident-response and breach-notification
Decision authority
AI handles the structured workflow + document assembly. Humans decide anything that affects production safety, quality release, or regulatory submission.
| Action | Decision | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-push order status to customer | AI | Operational, MES-driven. |
| Generate a quote draft | AI | Estimator reviews and signs before send. |
| Assemble a COA | AI with human approval | QA reviews and signs before COA goes to customer. |
| Disposition a failed QC part | AI with human approval | AI structures the workflow; QA makes the decision. |
| Approve a vendor lot for receipt | AI with human approval | AI checks against spec; QA approves above threshold. |
| Sign a batch record | Human only | Always a qualified production / QA leader. |
| Approve a regulatory submission | Human only | Always RA leader. |
| Authorize a recall | Human only | Always executive + QA decision. |
Pick one. Run it for a quarter. Prove it.
Each of these is a real, measurable pilot you can run with us over a single quarter, with explicit success criteria so the answer at the end is "yes, kept" or "no, scrapped," not "maybe."
Quote acceleration pilot
Pick one estimator's RFQ stream for 60 days. Run the drafter + prior-similar reference. Measure quote turnaround + win rate.
Success criteria
- ·Median quote turnaround down 60%+
- ·Win rate same or better
- ·Estimator reports time recovered
COA + batch record automation (process)
Pick 1 product line for 60 days. Run the COA generator + batch record assembler. Measure QA time + COA-driven shipping delays.
Success criteria
- ·≥80% reduction in QA time per COA
- ·Zero COA-driven shipping delays
- ·Zero quality regressions
Vendor delivery risk monitor
Connect ERP PO data + carrier tracking for 90 days. Measure missed receipts vs baseline.
Success criteria
- ·≥30% reduction in missed receipts
- ·≥50% of at-risk deliveries flagged before missed receipt
- ·Procurement satisfaction with risk visibility
Multi-channel demand sensing (OEM)
Connect 3-5 channel data sources for 1 quarter. Measure forecast accuracy improvement.
Success criteria
- ·Forecast MAPE improves 20-30%
- ·Stockouts decrease 20-30%
- ·Sales-ops reports new visibility
Customer status push pilot
Push order status events to top 20 customers for 30 days. Measure 'where's my order?' inbound contact volume.
Success criteria
- ·50%+ reduction in 'where's my order' calls
- ·Customer satisfaction with status visibility increases
- ·CS team recovers 8-15 hours/week
We extend your stack, we don't replace it
Your firm has a system of record for a reason. We plug into it. The platform is the connective tissue between the systems you already pay for, not a competing system you have to migrate to.
NetSuite / SAP / Epicor / Plex / Infor / Oracle
API + database readERP stays source of truth for orders, inventory, costing. We extend with cross-system state cache + workflow automation.
Aegis / DELMIA / Plex MES / Tulip
API + event hooksMES stays source of truth for production execution. We pull events + write status updates back where appropriate.
MasterControl / ETQ / Pilgrim / TrackWise (QMS)
APIQMS stays source of truth for quality records + CAPAs. We extend with workflow + reporting.
EDI gateway / customer portals
EDI + APIEDI 850/855/856/810 cycles + customer portal cycles continue through your existing connectors. We orchestrate around them.
LIMS (LabWare / SampleManager / STARLIMS)
APILIMS stays source of truth for lab results. We pull data for COA + batch record assembly.
QuickBooks / Xero (smaller shops)
APIGL stays source of truth. We extend with quote / order / invoice automation.
One way to slice Manufacturing: our four pre-packaged bundles
Below are the four pre-packaged engagement bundles available in manufacturing - useful when you want a single signed PO instead of assembling the catalog. The full Manufacturingpractice covers more: see the full catalog and the multi-tab coverage matrix for the department, technology, and workflow lenses.
- Reorder triggers
- AR + dunning
- Distributor reactivation
- Quote follow-up
- Plant-scoped tenancy
- Quality audit log
- ERP webhook surface
- Production scorecard
- Distributor outbound
- Trade-show nurture
- RFP response automation
- Account-based campaigns
- Quality-control vision
- Production-planning brain
- ERP integration adapters
- Supplier matching
Get my plant's automation map
Tell us your plant size, primary type (discrete / process / OEM / contract), and the cross-system workflow that costs you the most time. We'll come back with a written map of which 5-7 automations matter first and what the first 90 days would change.