Bill K.
CNC Shop Owner
2.3
AIBMM ScoreBill owns a CNC machine shop with 22 employees. Job quoting was his biggest bottleneck - taking hours per quote and often leaving money on the table. Inventory was managed in spreadsheets updated weekly.
Starting Point: The Struggles
Job quoting taking 2-4 hours each
Inventory counts done weekly by hand
Machine utilization tracked in spreadsheets
Often running out of material mid-job
The 90-Day Journey
Shop Floor Discovery
Bill completed Discovery with his shop foreman. Score of 2.3 - they used no AI tools at all. Everything was manual or spreadsheet-based.
Manufacturing Workflows
Mapped quoting, inventory, scheduling, and quality inspection workflows. Quoting had highest value score; inventory had highest readiness.
Conservative Stage Plan
With limited tech resources, Bill set WIP limit to 2 Lifts: AI-Assisted Quoting and Real-Time Inventory. Realistic for a manufacturing operation.
Quote Automation Build
Built system to analyze drawings (with human review) and pull historical job data. AI suggests pricing based on similar past jobs and current material costs.
Integration Challenges
Legacy ERP system had no API. Logged friction. Decision: use CSV exports until Q2 when ERP upgrade planned.
Inventory Sensors Deployed
Installed weight sensors on material racks connected to tracking system. AI alerts when stock drops below reorder point.
Quoting Pilot Success
Tested AI-assisted quotes on 20 RFQs. Quote time dropped from 3 hours to 45 minutes. Win rate improved 15%.
Shop Floor Review
Both Lifts graduated. Inventory system running autonomously. Captured quoting logic as patterns for consistent pricing.
Lifts Executed
AI-Assisted Quote Generation
→
Quote time 3hr → 45min
Real-Time Inventory Monitoring
→
Zero stockouts since launch
Friction Encountered & Resolved
Issue
Legacy ERP has no API for real-time integration
Resolution
Used scheduled CSV exports; planned ERP upgrade for Q2
Issue
Shop floor wifi unreliable for sensors
Resolution
Installed mesh network with industrial-grade access points
Results: By the Numbers
Quote Generation Time
3 hours
→
45 min
Quote Win Rate
25%
→
40%
Material Stockouts/Month
4-5
→
0
Key Takeaways
Manufacturing can benefit from AI despite legacy systems
Physical sensors + AI create powerful automation
Conservative WIP limits work well for operations-focused teams
Historical data is gold for AI-assisted quoting
What's Next for Bill?
Machine utilization monitoring, predictive maintenance alerts
Start Your Journey
Bill started exactly where you are. Begin with Discovery to chart your own path.