Stop Losing Jobs to Slow Quotes and Material Shortages Scale Your Custom Fab Operations with AI That Grows as Fast as Your Shop
You're probably thinking, 'Can AI really handle the chaos of custom fabrication?' Here's the thing: our platform cuts quoting time by 40% and reduces material waste by 25%, letting you take on bigger projects without the growing pains.
Join 150+ businesses with seamless, scalable fabrication workflows
The "Scaling Bottlenecks" Problem
Manual quoting delays on structural steel drawings, losing bids to competitors using automated takeoff software
Inventory mismatches in rebar or sheet metal causing scrap and rushed supplier orders for just-in-time delivery
Shop floor miscommunications between welders and CNC operators leading to rework on custom structural assemblies
Overloaded foremen juggling schedules and material tracking
Scaling fabrication volume for precast concrete or metal framing hits limits from siloed CAD and ERP data integration
Quality control gaps in custom weldments or ductwork runs wasting hours on ultrasonic inspections
Build a Custom AI Platform That Scales with Your Fabrication Growth
We've engineered AI solutions for fabrication shops just like yours, handling everything from plasma cutting to CNC milling with field-tested reliability.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, running a custom fab shop means dealing with unique client specs, tight deadlines, and the constant push to take on more volume without adding headcount. Our custom AI platform is built from the ground up to unify your CAD software, ERP systems, and shop floor tools into one owned system. No more subscription patchwork. It scales seamlessly as you grow—from 50 parts a week to 500—eliminating bottlenecks like manual data transfers or guesswork on material yields. Think of it as the reinforced foundation for your shop: solid, expandable, and ready for the heavy loads of enterprise-level production.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Unlimited Growth Potential in Your Fab Shop
Faster Quotes, More Wins
AI analyzes client AutoCAD drawings and historical weldment jobs to generate accurate quotes in under 10 minutes, helping you secure 30% more bids on structural steel projects without hiring extra estimators—leaving competitors in the dust on those tight RFP deadlines.
Zero-Waste Material Forecasting
Predict exact needs for rebar, aluminum extrusions, or composite panels in custom runs, cutting overstock by 25% and eliminating frantic last-minute calls to suppliers during peak construction seasons—keeping your cash flow steady as you scale to larger fabrication volumes.
Shop Floor Efficiency That Scales
Real-time tracking of welders, machinists, and assembly lines via RFID tags prevents delays in custom builds, reducing project overruns by 20% on multi-phase jobs—as your shop expands to multiple shifts or satellite yards, the platform scales seamlessly with integrated ERP feeds.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ Labs, quoting a custom steel beam fabrication took our team two full days of manual measurements from shop drawings and supplier calls. Now, the AI integrates our SolidWorks files and past weld data to deliver a precise bid in just 15 minutes. We've snagged three major bridge component contracts this quarter, with material order errors dropping from 12% to under 2%—it's like having a tireless detailing engineer on call 24/7."
Mike Harlan
Lead Estimator, Precision Steel Fabricators Inc.
"Scaling our aluminum extrusion line for commercial framing was a total headache with our legacy ERP generating unreliable forecasts—we overbought 15 tons of billet last year and absorbed the $50K hit. Their AI platform now pulls from CAD models and inventory logs for 5% accuracy on needs, cutting waste by $45K in the last six months alone. We're confidently bidding on high-volume curtain wall projects without shortage risks."
Sarah Kline
Supply Chain Director, Metro Alloy Extrusions LLC
"Straight up: our fab shop was plagued by misrouted sheet metal parts causing rework on almost every custom HVAC duct assembly. Since rolling out their AI system, it catches clashes in the Revit CAD phase and optimizes routing for plasma cutters and benders. We've boosted turnaround by 35% on commercial installs, ditching constant overtime for reliable on-time deliveries to job sites—essential for keeping our edge in the fab game."
Tom Reyes
Shop Floor Supervisor, Apex Metalworks & Fabrication
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Blueprint
We dive into your fab shop's workflows— from initial client drawings to final assembly—mapping pain points like quoting delays or inventory gaps. Together, we blueprint a custom AI system tailored to your CNC machines and material types.
Build and Integrate
Our engineers code the platform from scratch, weaving in AI for predictive modeling and seamless ties to your existing tools. We test rigorously on real fab scenarios, ensuring it handles your unique custom runs without a hitch.
Deploy and Scale
Roll out the system shop-wide with training for your team. As you grow—adding lines or clients—the architecture expands effortlessly, providing ongoing optimizations to keep your operations lean and profitable.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this AI platform handle unique custom fabrication specs without generic assumptions?
Great question—custom fab shops deal with one-offs all the time, like a client needing a bent steel frame with specific tolerances. Our platform is trained on your shop's historical data from tools like SolidWorks or your CNC logs, so it learns your exact processes. We build custom models that analyze drawings, material properties, and past yields to generate tailored predictions. For instance, if you're fabricating aluminum panels for a construction site, it factors in weather-related delays or supplier variances. This isn't off-the-shelf AI; it's engineered to adapt to your variability, reducing errors by up to 30% right away. And as you input more jobs, it gets smarter, scaling accuracy with your growth. No more one-size-fits-all frustrations.
Can this scale if my shop doubles production volume next year?
Absolutely, scalability is core to what we do for fab shops hitting growth walls. Imagine going from 200 custom parts a month to 400—our enterprise architecture uses modular code that expands without bottlenecks, like adding rebar to a foundation. We've handled this for shops integrating new laser cutters or expanding to second shifts. The AI processes more data in parallel, maintaining speed even at higher volumes. In one case, a client scaled from single-site to three locations, and their quoting time stayed under 10 minutes. We monitor and optimize post-launch, ensuring no slowdowns as you add machines or staff. You're building an asset that grows with you, not against you.
What about integrating with our existing CAD and ERP systems?
Integration nightmares are a daily grind in fabrication, with data stuck between CAD designs and ERP inventory. We specialize in deep, two-way connections—no superficial APIs that break. For example, we'll link your AutoCAD files directly to the AI for auto-populating material lists in your ERP like SAP or Epicor. This creates a single source of truth, eliminating manual re-entry that wastes hours. Our team maps your specific workflows first, then codes custom bridges that handle real-time updates, like syncing a job change from design to shop floor instantly. Shops we've worked with report 50% less admin time, and it's all owned by you, so no dependency on third-party plugins that glitch during peak seasons.
How secure is the data in this custom AI platform for sensitive fab designs?
Security is non-negotiable in manufacturing, especially with proprietary designs for construction clients. We build with enterprise-grade encryption and compliance in mind, like SOC 2 standards, ensuring your CAD files and job specs stay locked down. Data is processed on your secured servers or ours with role-based access—foremen see schedules, but not full blueprints. We've deployed this for shops handling DoD contracts, where audits are brutal, and passed without issues. Features like audit trails track every access, and AI anomaly detection flags unusual patterns. You're not just getting scalability; you're getting a fortress for your IP that scales securely as your operations grow.
What's the ROI timeline for implementing this in a mid-sized fab shop?
ROI in custom fab is all about quick wins on the shop floor. Most clients see payback in 4-6 months through reduced material waste (20-30% savings) and faster quoting that lands more jobs. Take a typical 50-employee shop: automating inventory forecasting alone can save $20K-$50K yearly on overstock, while cutting rework from miscommunications shaves 15% off labor costs. We track metrics from day one, like time per job or scrap rates, and optimize based on your data. One partner hit breakeven in three months after streamlining CNC scheduling for rush orders. It's practical, field-tested ROI—not hype. As you scale, these savings compound, turning the platform into a profit driver.
Do I need an in-house tech team to maintain this AI platform?
No, that's the beauty—we design it for hands-off ownership. Unlike no-code tools requiring constant tweaks, our custom build is production-ready and self-sustaining. Updates are modular, like swapping out a worn tool without halting the line, and we provide simple admin interfaces for your ops team. For a fab shop, this means your foremen can adjust AI parameters for new materials without coding. We include initial training and a support retainer for the first year, transitioning to you owning it fully. Clients tell us it's easier than managing their current ERP, freeing tech time for growth. If issues arise—like a new CAD version—we handle integrations seamlessly.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.