Stop Wasting Hours on Manual CAD Revisions and Supply Chain Guesswork Custom AI Solutions Built for Your Shop Floor
Imagine slashing 40% off your production delays and turning chaotic inventory into a predictable powerhouse. We're here to make that happen with AI tailored to your fabrication workflows.
Join 250+ businesses with streamlined fabrication ops
The "Fragmented Workflow" Problem
Endless Manual Data Entry Between CAD Software like AutoCAD and ERP Systems for Steel Fabrication Blueprints
Unpredictable Material Lead Times Disrupting Tight Project Schedules
Quality Control Bottlenecks from Inconsistent Weld and Plasma Cut Inspections on Structural Components
Over-Reliance on Spreadsheets for Custom Order Tracking and Quoting
Supply Chain Delays from Poor Visibility into Supplier Performance on Critical Materials like Rebar and I-Beams
Labor Shortages Forcing Overtime on Repetitive Shop Floor Tasks like CNC Programming and Assembly Line Welding
Our Tailored AI Blueprint for Your Fabrication Shop
We've engineered solutions for over 100 construction and manufacturing firms, turning shop floor chaos into efficient, ROI-proven operations.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, off-the-shelf software feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round weld joint—it just doesn't work for your custom fabrication needs. That's why we build AI from the ground up, molded to your exact workflows. Picture this: an AI system that scans your CAD files, predicts material needs based on past jobs, and flags potential delays before they hit your timeline. We're not assemblers slapping together tools; we're builders crafting a unified system you own, flexible enough to adapt as your shop scales from small runs to high-volume contracts.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Your Shop's Potential with Precision AI
Boost On-Time Delivery Rates
Boost On-Time Delivery Rates: No more scrambling when structural steel or precast concrete arrives late for high-rise pours. Our AI forecasts lead times using your supplier history, global commodity indices, and weather data impacts, helping you hit 95% on-time deliveries—saving you from costly penalties and unhappy clients on those bridge builds or factory retrofits, often within the first quarter of implementation.
Slash Production Errors by 35%
Slash Production Errors by 35%: You're probably thinking, 'How do we catch every flawed cut or porosity in welds without slowing the line on heavy plate fabrication?' Our custom vision AI inspects welds, plasma cuts, and fabrications in real-time using machine learning trained on your shop's tolerances, reducing rework and scrap. One shop we worked with dropped their defect rate from 12% to under 4% in just six months, freeing up hours for more billable work on custom trusses and panels.
Accelerate Quoting for Custom Jobs
Accelerate Quoting for Custom Jobs: Here's the thing: manual quoting on bespoke metalwork like HVAC ducting or architectural facades can take days amid fluctuating steel tariffs. We automate it with AI that pulls from your past projects in ERP, factoring in material costs, labor rates for certified welders, and current mill pricing, so you respond to RFQs in hours. This not only wins more bids but improves your margins by 15-20% on complex assemblies for commercial builds.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ Labs, we were buried in Excel sheets tracking every custom bracket order for our steel framing projects—it was killing our small team during peak construction season. Their AI integrated our SolidWorks files directly with our Epicor ERP, and now quoting a full fabrication run for beam assemblies takes under 30 minutes. We landed three big contracts last quarter because of it, and our error rate on deliveries dropped from 15% to 2% over the past year. Game-changer for our shop."
Mike Rivera
Shop Foreman, Precision Steel Fabricators Inc.
"Supply chain hiccups were our nightmare during the steel shortage; we'd lose weeks waiting on galvanized piping for HVAC assemblies in commercial retrofits. The custom forecasting AI they built analyzes our vendor data, lead time variances, and predicts shortages two weeks out with 85% accuracy. Last year, we avoided $50K in rush fees and kept our crews running full tilt on schedule. It's like having an extra planner on staff who understands mill delivery patterns."
Sarah Chen
Operations Manager, Metro Fabrication Works LLC
"Quality checks were manual and hit-or-miss on our structural I-beams and columns—too many returns from the field on high-tolerance welds. AIQ's inspection AI spots inconsistencies like undercut or slag inclusions right off the CNC plasma table, saving us 20 hours a week in rework for bridge components. We've improved our client satisfaction scores by 40% since implementation six months ago, and it's all built around our specific AWS D1.1 welding codes."
Tom Hargrove
Quality Assurance Director, Ironclad Structural Manufacturing
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Workflow Mapping
We dive into your shop's daily grind— from CAD design to final assembly— to pinpoint bottlenecks like delayed material pulls or quoting lags. This ensures our AI is custom-built for your fabrication realities.
AI Design and Prototyping
Using your data from past jobs, we prototype AI models for forecasting, automation, and inspections. Think of it as laying the foundation for a sturdy build—tested and iterated until it fits your needs perfectly.
Integration, Testing, and Launch
We wire it into your existing tools, run field tests on real runs, and launch with full training for your team. Post-go-live, we monitor and tweak, just like fine-tuning a machine after installation.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does your AI handle the variability in custom fabrication orders?
Great question—custom work is the heart of fabrication shops, and one-size-fits-all tools fall short there. We start by analyzing your historical orders, like varying beam sizes or bracket configs, to train AI models that adapt on the fly. For instance, it can auto-adjust nesting patterns based on material specs you input. This means faster prep without manual recalcs, and we've seen shops reduce setup time by 25%. It's all built around your workflow, so whether it's a one-off prototype or a repeat structural job, the system learns and flexes with you. No more rigid templates holding you back.
What kind of integration do you do with existing shop software like AutoCAD or Epicor?
Integration nightmares are all too common in manufacturing—we get it. Our approach uses deep, two-way APIs to connect tools like AutoCAD for design pulls directly to your Epicor ERP for inventory and scheduling. No more exporting CSVs or manual entries that lead to errors. For a recent client, this synced real-time stock levels with design files, preventing over-ordering on aluminum sheets. We test everything in your environment to ensure it handles peak loads, like during a big construction rush. The result? A seamless flow that feels like one system, saving your team hours weekly.
How quickly can we see ROI from these custom AI solutions?
You're probably thinking about the bottom line, and rightfully so—construction margins are tight. Most of our fabrication clients see payback within 3-6 months through cuts in labor and material waste. Take inventory forecasting: by predicting steel needs accurately, you avoid 10-15% overstock, freeing up cash. One shop reported $30K saved in the first quarter alone by dodging rush orders. We track metrics from day one, like reduced quoting time or defect rates, and adjust to hit your ROI goals. It's practical, field-tested AI that delivers measurable wins, not pie-in-the-sky promises.
Is this AI solution secure for handling sensitive shop data and blueprints?
Security is non-negotiable in fabrication, especially with proprietary designs for construction projects. We build everything on secure, encrypted frameworks compliant with standards like ISO 27001, ensuring your CAD files and job specs stay protected. Data is processed on your owned infrastructure, not cloud rentals prone to breaches. For example, we implemented role-based access so only authorized welders see inspection results, preventing leaks. Regular audits and our track record with regulated manufacturers mean peace of mind—no vulnerabilities that could expose your competitive edge in custom metalwork.
Can your AI scale if our shop grows from 20 to 100 employees?
Absolutely, scalability is baked in from the start. Unlike off-the-shelf tools that cap out at certain volumes, our custom builds use robust frameworks that handle increased throughput—think expanding from small custom runs to full production lines for factory builds. We design with modularity, so adding features like advanced predictive maintenance doesn't require a rebuild. A client doubled their output last year, and our AI adapted seamlessly, maintaining 98% uptime. We monitor growth patterns and proactively optimize, ensuring it supports your expansion without downtime or extra costs.
What if we already have some automation—will this replace or enhance it?
Here's the thing: we don't believe in rip-and-replace; that's disruptive and expensive for busy shops. Instead, we enhance what you have, like layering AI on top of your existing CNC software for smarter routing or integrating with current inventory apps for better forecasting. For a fabrication firm with partial automation, we bridged gaps between their legacy systems, adding AI for defect detection without scrapping investments. This hybrid approach minimizes risk, speeds deployment, and amplifies your current setup's value—turning good into great while keeping costs down.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.