Stop Losing Hours to Manual Sheet Metal Routing and Part Tracking Custom AI Automation That Builds Efficiency Like a Well-Oiled CNC Machine
Imagine slashing 15-25 hours per week on repetitive fab shop tasks, cutting material waste by 20%, and boosting your ROI with a system tailored to your weld shop workflows—not some off-the-shelf template.
Join 150+ fabrication shops with streamlined operations and real ROI gains
The "Shop Floor Chaos" Problem
Manual Routing of Custom Steel Beams and Structural Components Eating Up Foreman Time
Inventory Mismatches Leading to Costly Overruns on Job Sites
Error-Prone Blueprint Revisions in AutoCAD Slowing Down CNC Plasma Cutter Fabrication Runs
Disconnected Tools Between CAD Software and Shop Floor Execution on CNC Mills and Weld Stations
Weld Quality Tracking Buried in Paper Logs and Delayed ASME Compliance Reports
Supply Chain Delays from Unforeseen Shortages of Specialty Alloys in Custom Structural Jobs
Our Custom-Built AI Workflows for Your Fab Shop
We've engineered solutions for over 50 construction and manufacturing firms, turning chaotic shop floors into precision operations with field-tested AI integrations.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, running a custom fabrication shop means juggling CAD designs, CNC programming, and on-site deliveries without a single seamless system. Here's the thing: we build AI workflows from the ground up, tailored to your exact processes—like automating part nesting on your plasma cutters or predicting material needs based on project bids. You're probably thinking, 'Will this actually fit our setup?' Absolutely. We start by mapping your daily grind, from quoting stainless steel jobs to tracking weld inspections, then craft a unified system that owns your data, not some subscription trap. No more brittle Zapier hacks; just robust, scalable automation that feels like an extension of your team.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Tangible Time and Cost Wins for Your Shop
Save 20 Hours Weekly on Manual Tracking
Save 20 Hours Weekly on Manual Tracking: Picture this: instead of your team chasing down statuses of rebar bundles or sheet metal across emails and clipboards, AI automates RFID inventory checks and syncs with your ERP system in real-time. That's <span class="gradient">20 hours back</span> for focusing on high-value tasks like beam assembly, not admin drudgery—translating to a quick ROI as bids for commercial builds turn around faster and overtime on job sites drops by 15%.
Cut Material Waste and Project Overruns by 25%
Cut Material Waste and Project Overruns by 25%: In custom fab shops, one misaligned cut on a steel plate can scrap an entire 4x8 sheet worth $200. Our AI optimizes nesting algorithms for your Trumpf laser cutters based on historical data from bridge or skyscraper jobs. Shops see <span class="gradient">25% less waste</span>, lower costs on A36 steel, and fewer emergency orders from suppliers—boosting productivity without the guesswork of manual layouts in SolidWorks.
Accelerate Quotes and Reduce Errors for Faster Wins
Accelerate Quotes and Reduce Errors for Faster Wins: You're probably buried in revising quotes when client specs change for HVAC ductwork or structural framing. We automate data extraction from Revit blueprints, flagging inconsistencies like bolt hole mismatches before they hit production. Result? Quotes in hours, not days, with <span class="gradient">15% fewer errors</span>, meaning more closed deals on commercial projects and smoother handoffs to the welding bay.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ Labs, our shop lost a full day every week just reconciling inventory of galvanized pipe fittings from the yard to the fab line for plumbing installs. Now, the system flags shortages automatically via barcode scans, and we've cut delays on custom steel orders by 30% in the last six months. It's like having an extra planner who never sleeps, keeping our commercial builds on schedule."
Mike Harlan
Shop Foreman, Precision Weld Fab Inc., specializing in structural steel for mid-rise buildings
"We were drowning in manual weld logs that took hours to compile for AWS D1.1 quality checks on beam joints. Their custom AI pulled it all into one dashboard with photo uploads—inspections are now instant, and we've avoided two potential rework jobs on tower crane bases worth $15K this quarter. Game-changer for our small team handling high-rise components."
Sarah Kline
Operations Manager, Metro Metalworks, fabricators of custom metal enclosures for industrial sites
"Integrating our Mastercam CNC software with project bids for custom aluminum railings was a nightmare before. AIQ built a workflow that auto-generates routings for router tables, saving us 18 hours a week and helping us bid 20% more jobs for architectural facades without hiring. ROI hit in under three months, with zero integration headaches."
Tom Reyes
Owner, Apex Custom Fab, producers of precision metalwork for commercial renovations
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Workflow Mapping
We dive into your fab shop's daily realities— from CAD uploads to final assembly—identifying bottlenecks like manual dimension checks or delayed material pulls. This ensures our AI is built around your unique processes, not a cookie-cutter setup.
Custom AI Design and Prototyping
Using your data from past jobs, we prototype automations like predictive part routing or automated quality alerts. We test on a small scale, like one production line, to confirm it saves time without disrupting your flow.
Deployment and Ongoing Optimization
Roll out the full system with training for your crew, then monitor and tweak based on real shop feedback. Expect <span class="gradient">quantifiable gains</span> within weeks, with us handling integrations to keep everything running smooth as a fresh weld.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this AI handle the variability in custom fabrication jobs?
Great question—custom fab isn't cookie-cutter, right? Our AI is trained on your specific job history, like varying steel gauges or rush plasma cuts, to adapt dynamically. We start by ingesting data from your past 12-24 months of projects, then build models that predict routing for unique specs. For instance, if a job involves intricate weldments, the system flags potential bottlenecks early. It's not rigid; it learns from feedback loops in your shop, ensuring efficiency gains without constant tweaks. Shops typically see 15-20% faster throughput after the first quarter, and we provide ongoing support to refine it as your offerings evolve.
What's the timeline for implementing this in our shop?
You're probably thinking this sounds great but will it disrupt production? We keep it lean: discovery takes 1-2 weeks, prototyping another 2-3, and full deployment in 4-6 weeks total for most fab shops. We phase it in—start with one workflow, like inventory tracking, to minimize downtime. No big bang; it's like adding a new jig to your line without halting the whole run. Post-launch, we monitor for a month to optimize, and many clients report ROI within 2-3 months through saved hours on manual tasks.
Do I need to replace my existing CAD or ERP software?
No way—we integrate with what you already use, like SolidWorks or your current ERP, without forcing a switch. That's the beauty of custom builds: we create APIs that pull data seamlessly, say from CAD files directly into AI for auto-quoting. No data silos or forced migrations. If you're on older systems, we handle the bridges to make them AI-ready. This approach has helped shops avoid the costly rip-and-replace, keeping your investment focused on automation gains rather than new tools.
How secure is this for sensitive shop data like blueprints?
Security is non-negotiable in manufacturing, especially with proprietary designs. We build everything on encrypted, owned infrastructure—no cloud dependencies you don't control. Data stays in-house, compliant with standards like NIST for fab shops. Access is role-based, so foremen see shop metrics without exposing full blueprints. We've audited systems for clients in regulated sectors, and regular penetration tests ensure robustness. Think of it as a digital vault tougher than your material storage—your IP is safe, and we include training to keep your team vigilant.
What kind of ROI can a shop like mine expect?
Let's talk numbers: most custom fab shops save 15-25 hours weekly on tasks like part tracking and quoting, equating to $5K-$10K monthly in labor costs for a mid-sized operation. Material waste drops 20%, adding another layer of savings on steel or aluminum runs. ROI typically hits in 3-6 months, with one client recouping costs in two after automating weld logs alone. We baseline your metrics pre-build, track post-deployment, and adjust for max impact—it's practical, field-tested math tailored to your throughput.
Can this scale if my shop grows or adds new machinery?
Absolutely, scalability is baked in from day one. Unlike no-code limits, our custom code handles growth—like adding a new fiber laser cutter—by updating integrations on the fly. We've scaled systems for shops doubling output, from 50 to 100 jobs monthly, without performance dips. The AI evolves too, incorporating new machine data to optimize routings. If you expand to multiple sites, we extend the dashboard accordingly. It's designed like a modular fab setup: add components as needed, keeping efficiency high no matter the size.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.