Stop Losing Hours to Manual CAD File Tracking and Build Seamless AI Workflows That Actually Fit Your Shop
You're probably thinking, 'Another software pitch?' Here's the thing: we've helped shops like yours cut fabrication delays by 40% with custom AI that integrates your CAD systems, inventory trackers, and shop floor tools into one unified platform—no more data silos or subscription nightmares.
Join 150+ businesses with streamlined fabrication processes
The "Fragmented Workflow" Problem
Manual data handoffs from SolidWorks CAD designs to CNC shop floor machines causing costly errors in beam fabrication tolerances
Inventory mismatches in steel rebar or aluminum extrusions leading to rushed material orders and production downtime on assembly lines
Disconnected quoting systems for custom steel fabrications that inflate bids and miss ROI on jobs like HVAC ductwork or bridge girders
Quality control checks for weld penetrations and material certifications buried in spreadsheets, delaying NDT inspections on-site
Weld tracking logs for GTAW and SMAW processes scattered across emails, risking AWS D1.1 compliance failures during audits
Supply chain disruptions from unintegrated vendor portals for raw steel coils or concrete formwork halting fabrication runs on gantry cranes
Seamless Integration for Your Fabrication Workflow
With over a decade in construction tech, we've field-tested AI solutions on real shop floors—from steel benders to precision mills.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, your custom fab shop thrives on precision, but disconnected tools are like pouring concrete without a level—everything shifts and cracks under pressure. At AIQ Labs, we build a unified AI platform tailored to your exact workflow. We start by mapping your CAD outputs, CNC controls, and inventory systems into a single source of truth. Data flows effortlessly: a design tweak in AutoCAD instantly updates material needs and machine schedules. No brittle APIs or rented apps—just custom code that scales with your jobs, reducing errors by 35% on average. You're not buying a template; we're engineering a digital backbone for your shop.
What Makes Us Different:
Centralized Operations That Drive Real ROI
Faster Turnaround on Custom Jobs
Imagine slashing lead times on custom steel beam fabrications from 4 weeks to just 3 days. Our AI integrates AutoCAD files with plasma cutter and CNC mill availability, predicting bottlenecks like tool wear before they hit. Shops report up to 30% faster delivery on modular construction projects, winning more bids for high-rises and keeping clients thrilled without burning out your welders.
Smarter Inventory and Cost Control
No more guessing on rebar stock or overordering titanium alloys for aerospace-grade parts. Our AI analyzes historical data from past bridge builds to forecast needs accurately, integrating with suppliers like Nucor for just-in-time delivery of sheet metal. This cuts scrap waste by 25% in your fab shop, frees up capital for new CNC investments, and keeps production lines running smoothly without emergency hauls.
Bulletproof Quality and Compliance
Track every fillet weld, laser cut, and ultrasonic inspection in one connected platform. Our AI flags deviations like improper joint prep in real-time, ensuring compliance with ASME Section IX and slashing rework on pipeline projects. Field-tested in heavy fabrication yards, it's helped shops dodge $50K+ in OSHA fines and costly field callbacks on commercial builds.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, our shop lost two full days a week chasing file versions between SolidWorks models and the CNC plasma table on the floor. Now, everything's seamlessly linked—we knocked out a 500-unit run of custom aluminum brackets 20% under budget last quarter, zero headaches or scrapped parts."
Mike Rivera
Lead CNC Operator, Precision Metal Fabricators Inc., specializing in architectural metalwork
"Integration headaches were killing our margins on custom HVAC ductwork fabrications. Their AI setup synced our ERP inventory with CNC router feeds overnight—we've slashed material waste from 15% to under 5% on galvanized steel jobs, and our bids for commercial installs are laser-accurate now."
Sarah Chen
Production Supervisor, Apex Sheet Metal Works, focused on HVAC systems for industrial builds
"We were buried in spreadsheets tracking weld certs for SMAW on structural beams. AIQ rolled out a unified digital tracker that pings our tablets instantly for deviations. It saved us from a major AWS compliance issue on a highway bridge overpass project last year—the crew swears by the mobile app for on-site verifications too."
Tom Hargrove
Welding Inspector, Structural Steel Welders LLC, experts in infrastructure projects
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Mapping
We dive into your shop's daily grind—CAD workflows, machine downtimes, material flows. No fluff; we identify silos and build a custom blueprint for integration.
Custom AI Build
Our engineers code your unified platform from the ground up, linking tools like ERP and sensors. It's field-tested for reliability, just like your best blueprints.
Deployment and Training
We roll it out shop-wide with hands-on sessions for your team. Monitor the first runs, tweak as needed, and hand over full ownership—no ongoing subs.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this integration handle our legacy CAD software?
We get it—many fab shops are stuck with older tools like older AutoCAD versions that don't play nice with modern systems. Our approach starts with a full audit of your setup. We build custom bridges using robust APIs or even direct data parsers to pull in your CAD files without forcing an upgrade. For instance, on a recent project for a steel shop, we synced their 2015 SolidWorks with current CNC controls, ensuring tolerances transferred accurately. This creates a single source of truth, cutting errors from manual exports. The whole process is tailored, so it fits your workflow—no ripping out what works. Expect setup in 4-6 weeks, with testing on live jobs to confirm seamless data flow. It's practical, field-tested, and keeps your ROI high by avoiding big hardware spends.
Will this AI system work offline for our remote fab sites?
Absolutely, downtime or spotty connectivity is a killer in construction fab. We design with that in mind, building hybrid models where core functions—like job queuing and basic inventory checks—run locally on edge devices or your servers. When online, it syncs to the cloud for full analytics and updates. Think of it like a backup generator for your data flow. In one case, we helped a modular builder with sites in rural areas; their welders could log progress offline, and it auto-synced on reconnect, reducing delays by 25%. We customize based on your setup, ensuring it's resilient like your best structural builds. No generic cloud-only nonsense—it's owned, secure, and scales to your needs.
What's the ROI timeline for implementing this in our shop?
You're ROI-driven, so let's talk numbers. Most clients see payback in 3-6 months through cuts in labor and materials. For a mid-sized fab shop, we typically reduce manual data entry by 30 hours/week, saving $15K+ quarterly at shop rates. Add in fewer errors on custom runs—say, avoiding 5% scrap on a $200K job—and it's even faster. We base projections on your specifics: during discovery, we model against your current bottlenecks, like quoting delays or inventory overstock. One partner hit breakeven in 10 weeks after integrating with their ERP, boosting on-time delivery from 70% to 95%. It's not hype; we track metrics post-launch to prove the gains, ensuring your investment builds lasting efficiency.
How do you ensure the AI understands our custom fabrication processes?
No off-the-shelf AI here—it's all custom-trained on your data. We kick off with workshops where your team walks us through unique steps, like custom bending radii or alloy mixes. Then, we ingest your historical job logs, CAD files, and error reports to train models that learn your patterns. It's like seasoning a cast-iron skillet; it gets better with use. For a precision parts shop we worked with, the AI started predicting setup times within 10% accuracy after two months, factoring in their variable lot sizes. We iterate with your feedback, avoiding generic assumptions. The result? A system that feels intuitive, reducing training time for new hires and keeping workflows tight. Fully owned by you, it evolves as your shop does.
Can this integrate with our existing CNC machines and sensors?
Yes, we specialize in bridging the gap between old-school machines and smart AI. Whether it's Haas mills or Fanuc controls, we use protocols like MTConnect or custom IO links to pull real-time data—RPMs, tool wear, cycle times—into your unified platform. No need to replace hardware. In a recent rollout for a metal fab outfit, we connected 12 legacy CNCs to monitor utilization, alerting on jams before they wasted material. This creates seamless workflows: a CAD change updates the queue automatically. We test rigorously on your floor to handle vibrations and noise, ensuring 99% reliability. It's practical engineering, not pie-in-the-sky tech, tailored to keep your production line flowing without interruptions.
What happens if our shop scales up—does the system adapt?
Scalability is baked in from day one, like reinforcing a beam for future loads. We architect with modular code that handles growth, from adding new fab lines to doubling job volume. For example, if you expand into larger custom runs, the AI auto-scales forecasting and resource allocation without rework. A client in structural manufacturing went from 50 to 150 weekly orders; our system absorbed it seamlessly, optimizing shifts and preventing overloads. We include expansion buffers in the design, based on your projections, and provide easy upgrade paths. No vendor lock-in—you own it, so your IT team can tweak as needed. It's field-tested for real growth, ensuring your AI investment compounds as your shop builds bigger.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.