Stop Wasting Hours on Manual Weld Tracking and Material Scrap Build AI That Fits Your Shop Floor Like a Custom Jig
Imagine slashing your production delays by 40% and cutting scrap rates in half with workflows engineered for your exact fabrication processes—no more fighting clunky off-the-shelf software.
Join 150+ businesses with streamlined operations and real ROI
The "Shop Floor Chaos" Problem
Manual tracking of weld logs for structural steel beams leads to ASME compliance headaches and delayed shipments of fabricated trusses
Unpredictable shortages of structural steel tubing halting CNC plasma cutting runs mid-shift on bridge components
Inaccurate scrap calculations for sheet metal offcuts inflating costs on every custom fabrication job order
Disconnected ERP and CAD systems causing errors in quoting custom steel fabrications for architectural panels
Labor-intensive visual quality checks slowing down high-volume plasma cutting of rebar supports
Inefficient inventory management of carbon steel plates leading to excess storage fees in warehouse yards
Tailored AI Built for Your Metal Shop
We've engineered solutions for fabrication firms just like yours, turning chaotic workflows into field-tested efficiencies that drive real profits.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest—off-the-shelf AI tools are like using a one-size-fits-all blueprint on a custom structural build; they just don't fit. At AIQ Labs, we craft AI solutions from the ground up, tailored to your metal fabrication needs. Whether it's automating weld defect detection or forecasting sheet metal demands based on your project pipeline, we integrate seamlessly with your CAD software, ERP systems, and shop floor tools. You're probably thinking, 'How do we start?' We begin with your unique workflow, building a unified system that replaces subscription sprawl with something you own outright. It's practical, ROI-driven, and tested in real fab shops.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Efficiency That Pays Off Immediately
Zero Downtime from Material Shortfalls
Zero Downtime from Material Shortfalls: Our AI forecasts needs for A36 steel plates and 6061 aluminum extrusions with 90% accuracy, integrating your past orders, supplier lead times from mills like Nucor, and real-time market fluctuations. No more halting a highway guardrail project because angle iron arrived late—save thousands in idle CNC machine time each month, keeping your fabrication line running 24/7.
Slash Scrap and Rework Costs
Slash Scrap and Rework Costs: AI-powered vision systems spot weld imperfections in TIG seams or plasma cut deviations in sheet metal in real-time, reducing scrap by 35%. For a mid-sized fab shop producing structural frames, that's like reclaiming a full welder's output without hiring extra hands—pure profit on every beam, with ROI in under 6 months.
Streamline Quoting and Bidding
Streamline Quoting and Bidding: Get instant, accurate quotes for custom fabrications like perforated metal screens by automatically analyzing material specs from your BOM, labor hours via MTM standards, and current steel pricing. Cut bidding time from days to hours for construction RFPs, winning more contracts without the guesswork that eats into 15-20% margins on jobs.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, we were buried in manual weld logs for our stainless steel pressure vessel runs—ASME audit errors cost us $15K in fines and rework last quarter alone. Their custom AI now auto-tracks porosity and fusion data in real-time, and we've cut shipment delays by 25% on major pipeline jobs. It's like having an extra CWI who never sleeps."
Mike Harlan
Welding Operations Manager at Precision Weld Fabricators Inc., specializing in oil & gas components
"Juggling inventory for 6063 aluminum extrusions and HSS tubing was a total nightmare; stockouts halted our CNC bending twice a month on commercial building frames. After implementing their tailored forecasting tool tied to our ERP, accuracy hit 88%, and we're saving $8K yearly on overstock and rush freight. Finally, tech that actually understands our metal shop chaos."
Sarah Lopez
Inventory and Fabrication Supervisor at Metro Metal Works LLC, focused on structural aluminum assemblies
"Our high-volume plasma cutting line for shear studs and decking plates was bogged down by manual quality checks taking 2 hours per shift. AIQ built us a custom inspection AI using edge detection that flags kerf width issues instantly—rework dropped 40% in the first two months, boosting throughput by 150 plates per day. No hype, just hard numbers that scaled our output for bigger bridge contracts."
Tom Reilly
Manufacturing Plant Director at Apex Steel Fabricators Co., experts in highway infrastructure components
Simple 3-Step Process
Map Your Workflow
We dive into your shop operations—reviewing CAD files, ERP data, and daily challenges—to pinpoint bottlenecks like weld tracking or material flow.
Design and Prototype
Together, we blueprint a custom AI system, prototyping key features like automated scrap analysis to ensure it meshes with your tools before full build.
Deploy and Optimize
We roll out the solution shop-floor ready, training your team and fine-tuning based on real runs to deliver immediate ROI without disrupting production.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does your AI handle the variability in custom metal jobs?
Here's the thing—metal fab isn't cookie-cutter, so we train our AI on your specific data, like varying alloys or job sizes. For instance, it learns from your past runs on structural beams versus decorative panels to predict needs accurately. We start with a workflow audit, then build models that adapt to changes, like seasonal demand spikes. This flexibility means no more generic forecasts; it's built for your shop's rhythm, reducing errors by up to 30% right away. And since it's custom, it evolves with your business without starting over.
What if we already use software like AutoCAD or an ERP system?
No worries—we specialize in deep, two-way integrations that make your existing tools smarter. Think of it like reinforcing a beam: our AI pulls data from AutoCAD blueprints for instant material calcs and pushes updates back to your ERP for seamless inventory sync. We've done this for shops running Epicor or similar, cutting manual entries by 50%. You're probably thinking it'll be disruptive, but we prototype in phases, testing on one line first. The result? A single source of truth that eliminates silos, saving hours weekly on data chasing.
How quickly can we see ROI from these custom AI solutions?
Let's be honest, in metal fab, time is money, so we design for fast wins. Most clients see payback in 3-6 months through cuts in scrap (20-40% typical) and faster quoting. For example, one shop reduced material over-orders by $12K in the first quarter after our forecasting AI went live. We tie every feature to your KPIs, like throughput on the cutting table, and provide metrics dashboards to track progress. It's not hype—it's field-tested, with ROI baked in from the blueprint stage.
Do you offer support after the AI is built and deployed?
Absolutely, we're in it for the long haul. Unlike assemblers who vanish post-install, we provide ongoing optimization, like tweaking models for new machinery or alloys. Our team, with fab backgrounds, handles updates remotely or on-site, ensuring your system stays sharp amid shop changes. We've supported clients through expansions, adjusting AI for doubled production without downtime. Think of us as your digital shop steward—regular check-ins, plus 24/7 monitoring to catch issues before they slow your line.
Is this AI solution scalable for growing fabrication operations?
Yes, scalability is core to how we build. We use robust frameworks that grow with you, from handling 50 jobs a month to 500, without performance dips. For a client scaling from small custom runs to large OEM contracts, our AI adapted by integrating more data sources seamlessly, boosting efficiency 35%. It's like expanding your fab bay: modular design means adding features, like advanced predictive analytics, as needed. No rip-and-replace; just smooth growth that keeps your ROI climbing.
How do you ensure the AI complies with industry standards like AWS welding codes?
Compliance is non-negotiable in metal fab, so we embed it from the start. Our AI logs every weld parameter automatically, generating reports that meet AWS or ISO standards out of the box. We've built this for shops facing audits, reducing prep time from weeks to hours. The system flags deviations in real-time, like improper heat settings, preventing costly rejections. You're probably thinking about data security too—we use encrypted, owned systems to protect your proprietary designs, all while keeping things practical for daily use.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.