Stop Losing Weeks Sourcing Welders and Machinists Manually Automate Your Hiring Pipeline with AI Built for Your Shop Floor
Imagine reclaiming 20+ hours per week from resume sorting and phone screens, slashing your time-to-hire by 40%, and cutting recruitment costs in half without the hassle of generic HR software that doesn't get fabrication workflows.
Join 150+ businesses with faster hires and leaner teams
The "Talent Crunch" Problem
Endless Manual Sorting of Resumes for Skilled Trades like Welders, Pipefitters, and Millwrights Handling Structural Steel and HVAC Systems
Scheduling Conflicts Around 24/7 Shop Shifts for Continuous Welding Operations and Assembly Line Production
High Turnover from Mismatched Hires in High-Pressure Fab Environments like Tight-Tolerance CNC Machining and On-Site Concrete Pouring
Wasted Time on Generic Job Boards Yielding Unqualified Applicants Lacking OSHA Safety Training or Blueprint Reading Skills
Compliance Headaches Verifying Certifications for Welders (AWS D1.1) and CNC Operators (NIMS Credentials) Amid Evolving Building Codes
Overloaded HR Dealing with Seasonal Demand Spikes for Project Bids on Commercial Builds and Heavy Equipment Fabrication
Our Custom AI Recruiting System – Tailored to Your Fabrication Workflow
We've helped fabrication shops like yours cut hiring time by 50% through field-tested AI integrations that understand the grit of metalwork and assembly lines.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest – recruiting in custom fabrication isn't like hiring office staff. You're hunting for folks who can handle precision tolerances, read blueprints, and thrive in a noisy shop. We build AI automation that plugs right into your world, sourcing from trade-specific pools, screening for real skills like TIG welding certs or CAD proficiency, and even syncing with your project management tools to forecast hiring needs based on upcoming bids. No off-the-shelf nonsense. This is custom code, designed for your exact bottlenecks, so you own a system that scales with your shop's growth.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Real ROI in Your Hiring Process
Save 15-25 Hours Weekly on Manual Screening
Save 15-25 Hours Weekly on Manual Screening: You're probably thinking, 'How do I even find time for this?' Picture your team ditching stacks of resumes for an AI that parses them overnight, ranking candidates by hands-on experience with MIG/TIG welding on carbon steel or aluminum alloys. That's <span class="gradient">20 hours back per week</span> for focusing on production runs like beam fabrication or ductwork assembly, not paperwork – a direct boost to your shop's output and bottom line, potentially adding 10% more throughput on quarterly projects.
Reduce Time-to-Hire by 40% and Cut Costs by 30%
Reduce Time-to-Hire by 40% and Cut Costs by 30%: Here's the thing: Delays in hiring mean delayed projects and lost bids on multimillion-dollar infrastructure jobs. Our system auto-schedules interviews around your 24/7 rotating shifts for crane operators or press brake setups, ensuring you never miss a beat. Shops see hires in weeks, not months, trimming agency fees and overtime costs – one client in bridge construction shaved $15K off annual recruitment spend in just six months, reinvesting in updated rigging gear or automated saws for faster cuts.
Boost Retention with Smarter Candidate Matching
Boost Retention with Smarter Candidate Matching: High turnover stings in fabrication – retraining a certified pipefitter can cost $5K-$10K per instance, plus lost productivity on plumbing installs. We train the AI on your successful hires' profiles, including experience with AutoCAD drawings and on-site safety protocols, spotting cultural fits who stick around for the long haul. Efficiency gains? Up to 25% lower churn within the first year, meaning stable crews for those custom HVAC fabrications or steel erection projects that keep the lights on and margins healthy.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, we were buried under resumes every time we bid on a big structural steel job for high-rise builds. Now, the system flags the right guys with AWS D1.1 certs and experience in beam welding in under an hour, and we've hired three solid machinists in the last two months without any overtime chaos or project delays on our downtown project."
Mike Harlan
Operations Manager, Precision Fab Works – Structural Steel Fabricator in Chicago
"Shifts don't stop for interviews in our 24/7 metal rolling operations, but scheduling used to be a nightmare around night pours. This automation syncs with our calendar, accounts for union breaks, and even sends follow-ups. Cut our hiring time from six weeks to two for sheet metal workers, and saved us about $8K on a bad hire last year that nearly derailed a commercial roofing contract."
Sarah Kline
HR Lead, Metro Custom Metals – Sheet Metal Manufacturer in Atlanta
"As a small shop specializing in custom aluminum extrusions, we can't afford generic tools that ignore our need for quick-turnaround hires during peak seasons for storefront installations. AIQ built something that pulls from trade forums like AWS boards and matches skills to our laser cutting specs for precise tolerances. It's like having an extra recruiter who gets fabrication – we've filled four roles in a month without dipping into temp agencies."
Tom Reyes
Owner, Apex Fabrication Co. – Custom Extrusion Shop in Dallas
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Workflow Mapping
We dive into your shop's hiring pain points – from sourcing pipefitters to verifying OSHA compliance – and map how it all fits your daily ops. No templates; this is built around your blueprints.
AI System Design and Integration
Our engineers craft custom AI models tailored to fabrication roles, integrating with your tools like ERP systems or job trackers. We test it on real scenarios, like screening for aluminum welding experts.
Deployment, Training, and Optimization
We roll it out seamlessly, train your team on the dashboard, and fine-tune based on your first hires. Expect ongoing tweaks to handle seasonal rushes or new machinery needs.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this automation handle the unique skills needed in custom fabrication?
Great question – fabrication roles demand specifics like experience with plasma cutting or fixture design, not just generic 'manufacturing.' We train the AI on your shop's requirements, pulling from databases of trade certs and past hires. It scans resumes for keywords like 'MIG welding tolerances' or 'SolidWorks proficiency,' then ranks them against your criteria. One shop we worked with used it to filter for aerospace-grade fab experts, cutting unqualified apps by 70%. We customize the model iteratively, so it gets smarter with each cycle, saving you from sifting through irrelevant profiles. Plus, it's integrated with your workflow, so flagged candidates feed directly into your hiring tracker.
What kind of time savings can a small fab shop expect?
Let's be real: In a shop with 50 employees, manual recruiting can eat up 15-20 hours weekly, especially during bid seasons. Our system automates sourcing, screening, and initial outreach, reclaiming that time for your foremen. Clients typically see 40% faster time-to-hire – think filling a welder spot in 10 days instead of 6 weeks. That's not just hours saved; it's ROI through reduced downtime on jobs. For example, a Midwest shop reported 18 hours back per week after implementation, letting them bid on two extra projects last quarter without hiring temps. We measure this upfront and optimize to hit your targets.
Is this system secure for handling applicant data in a regulated industry?
Absolutely, security is non-negotiable in fabrication where you're dealing with proprietary designs and certs. We build with enterprise-grade encryption and comply with standards like GDPR and CCPA, plus industry specifics like ISO 9001 for quality data handling. Applicant info is stored in your owned system, not rented clouds prone to breaches. Access is role-based – HR sees full profiles, but shop leads get anonymized matches. We've audited our setups for shops in defense contracting, ensuring no leaks during high-stakes hires. If compliance is a worry, we start with a risk assessment tailored to your operations.
How do you integrate this with our existing tools like ERP or scheduling software?
Integration is where we shine – no more siloed data headaches. We connect via robust APIs to systems like SAP, Epicor, or even custom shop software, pulling project timelines to predict hiring needs. For instance, if a big custom enclosure job is queued, the AI flags urgency for sheet metal workers. Setup involves mapping your workflows: resumes flow into your ATS, schedules sync with Google Calendar or your shift planner. A client with Autodesk integration now auto-pulls job specs to match candidate skills. It's seamless, with testing to avoid disruptions, and we provide ongoing support as your tools evolve.
What's the cost and ROI timeline for custom fabrication shops?
Upfront, it's a one-time build fee based on complexity – for a mid-sized shop, around $20K-$40K, far less than ongoing agency fees. ROI kicks in fast: Break even in 3-6 months through saved hours and avoided bad hires (which cost $10K+ each in fab). We quantify it: One shop recouped costs in four months by filling five roles quicker, boosting productivity by 15%. No subscriptions mean long-term savings – own it forever. You're probably thinking it's a big lift, but we offer phased rollout and a free audit to project your exact payback, focusing on metrics like cost-per-hire reduction.
Can this scale if our shop grows or diversifies into new fab areas?
Yes, scalability is core – we design for growth, like expanding from structural steel to precision components. The AI adapts via modular updates; add new skills like 3D printing expertise without rebuilding. For a shop doubling staff, we enhance forecasting to handle volume spikes. A client grew from 30 to 80 employees, and we tweaked the system in weeks to include EV battery enclosure hires. It's flexible code, not rigid templates, so as your bids shift to new markets, the recruiting pipeline evolves with you, maintaining efficiency gains.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.