Stop Losing Hours to Manual Data Entry on Shop Floor Orders Automate It All with AI Built for Your Fabrication Workflow
Imagine slashing 15-20 hours of weekly drudgery per team member, cutting material waste by 25%, and boosting your ROI in under three months—no more chasing paper trails or double-checking CAD files by hand.
Join 150+ businesses with streamlined fabrication processes
The "Shop Floor Data Chaos" Problem
Endless rekeying of measurements from CAD blueprints to ERP inventory systems for steel beams and rebar schedules
Manual tracking of weld specs (like AWS D1.1 codes) and material heat batches leading to costly rework on structural components
Juggling paper job tickets between plasma cutting bays and NDT quality control stations
Hours wasted reconciling supplier deliveries of galvanized pipe or concrete forms with custom order requirements for site-specific builds
Error-prone entry of CNC plasma or router machine outputs into production logs for custom ductwork or paneling
Delayed invoicing due to mismatched fabrication timelines for precast elements and client specs on load-bearing tolerances
Our Custom AI Automation Tailored to Your Shop's Rhythm
We've field-tested these systems in fabrication shops just like yours, integrating with tools like AutoCAD and ERP software to handle the grit of daily production.
Why Choose Us
Here's the thing: in custom fabrication, every minute spent typing data instead of running machines is money evaporating. At AIQ Labs, we build AI-powered automations from the ground up, scanning blueprints, pulling live data from your CNC routers and welders, and syncing it all into a unified dashboard. No off-the-shelf templates— this is engineered for your exact workflow, whether you're bending steel for construction frames or machining parts for heavy equipment. Let's be honest, you've got enough headaches with tight deadlines; our solution eliminates the manual entry black hole, letting your team focus on precision work that drives profits.
What Makes Us Different:
Quantifiable Wins for Your Bottom Line
Save 15-20 Hours Per Week on Data Entry
Save 15-20 Hours Per Week on Data Entry: You're probably thinking about those late shifts where your fabricators are stuck updating spreadsheets instead of welding structural joints. Our automation pulls data from CAD blueprints and CNC machines instantly, freeing up hours for billable work like assembling rebar cages. That's like adding an extra crew member without the payroll hit—expect a 30% productivity boost in your first quarter, especially on high-volume bridge or high-rise projects.
Cut Costs by Reducing Material Waste and Rework
Cut Costs by Reducing Material Waste and Rework: In fabrication, a simple entry error on tolerances can scrap an entire batch of custom I-beams or welded trusses. We automate validation against your specs, including AWS welding codes, slashing rework by 25% and saving thousands in raw materials like A36 steel annually. Short punchy fact: shops using our system report ROI in just 2-3 months on precast concrete jobs.
Accelerate Order Fulfillment and Client Quotes
Accelerate Order Fulfillment and Client Quotes: Manual data hurdles slow down everything from quoting structural steel for commercial builds to delivering machined prototypes for modular housing. Our AI streamlines the flow from shop floor sensors to ERP, cutting turnaround from days to hours. Result? Happier clients, repeat business, and a competitive edge in bidding on construction projects—like turning your shop into a well-oiled machine that never misses a deadline on tight-site installations.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, our team was spending Fridays just entering cut list data from the plasma table—easily 12 hours gone on tracking flange dimensions for bridge girders. Now, it's all automatic, and we've shaved two days off our lead time for custom staircases. Saved us about $15K last quarter in overtime alone, letting us take on two more municipal contracts."
Mike Harlan
Shop Foreman, SteelForge Fabrications
"I was skeptical about AI in a hands-on shop like ours, but their system integrated with our old ERP overnight. No more mismatched inventory for aluminum extrusions used in curtain walls; errors dropped 35%, and we're finally hitting our fabrication quotas without burning out the crew on high-rise panel installs."
Sara Lopez
Operations Manager, Precision Metal Works Inc. (Specializing in Aluminum Extrusions for Commercial Facades)
"Custom jobs for HVAC assemblies were a nightmare with manual logging—delays everywhere on duct sizing and fitting specs. AIQ built this for us, pulling specs from AutoCAD drawings directly into our nesting software. In six months, we've boosted output by 20% and cut scrap waste that was killing our margins on large-scale warehouse retrofits."
Tom Reilly
Owner, FabTech Solutions LLC (HVAC Assembly for Industrial Construction)
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Workflow Mapping
We dive into your shop's daily grind—mapping how data flows from design to delivery, identifying bottlenecks like manual CAD exports. This ensures our build fits your fabrication process like a custom jig.
Custom AI Design and Integration
Our engineers craft the automation using your tools—linking AutoCAD, CNC software, and inventory systems. We test it on real jobs, like automating weld logs, to guarantee seamless performance without disrupting production.
Deployment and Ongoing Optimization
Roll it out with training for your team, then monitor and tweak based on shop feedback. Think of it as fine-tuning a machine tool— we keep it sharp, scaling as your fabrication demands grow.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this automation handle our unique fabrication processes?
We start by auditing your specific workflow—whether it's custom steel fabrication for bridges or precision machining for manufacturing equipment. Our AI is custom-coded to integrate with your tools, like pulling dimensions from SolidWorks files directly into production queues. No cookie-cutter approach; it's built to match your shop's pace, reducing manual entry from hours to minutes. We've done this for shops dealing with everything from ornamental metalwork to heavy structural components, ensuring it fits without forcing changes to how you operate. Expect setup in 4-6 weeks, with immediate time savings on data tasks.
What kind of ROI can a fabrication shop expect?
Let's be honest, ROI in fabrication is all about cutting waste and speeding output. Shops typically see 15-20 hours saved weekly per admin or foreman, translating to $5K-$10K monthly in labor costs alone. Add in 25% less rework from data errors—think fewer scrapped aluminum panels—and payback hits in 2-3 months. One client, a mid-sized metal shop, reported $40K saved in the first year by automating order tracking. We track metrics like efficiency gains and material savings from day one, so you see the numbers stack up fast.
Will this work with our existing CNC and inventory software?
Absolutely—our team specializes in deep, two-way integrations with common fabrication tools like Mastercam for CNC programming or Fishbowl for inventory. We map your data flows, whether it's syncing weld certifications or material batch numbers, without disrupting shop operations. It's not superficial plugins; we build robust connections that handle real-time updates, even during high-volume runs. If your setup includes legacy systems from older construction projects, we make it compatible. Post-integration, your team gets a single view, eliminating the back-and-forth that slows down production.
How secure is the data in this automation system?
Security is non-negotiable in manufacturing, especially with proprietary designs for custom parts. We use enterprise-grade encryption for all data transfers, like blueprint uploads, and comply with standards such as ISO 27001. Access is role-based—foremen see shop floor logs, but not full financials. We've hardened our systems against shop-floor realities, like dust or network glitches, with offline caching for critical fabrication data. Regular audits ensure no vulnerabilities, and since you own the system, there's no third-party cloud risks. Clients in regulated sectors, like those supplying to construction firms, have passed audits seamlessly after implementation.
Can we scale this as our shop grows?
Yes, scalability is baked in from the start. Whether you're ramping up for a big commercial build or adding new lines for modular manufacturing, our architecture handles it—processing thousands of data points daily without lag. We design with modularity, so adding features like automated quality checks for new alloy types is straightforward. One growing fabrication business we worked with doubled their output in a year; our system adapted without rebuilds, saving them from hiring extra data staff. We monitor usage and optimize proactively, ensuring it evolves with your expansion plans.
What if we're not tech-savvy—how easy is training?
We get it—your team is experts at fabrication, not software. Training is hands-on and shop-focused, like walking through automating a live job ticket in under 10 minutes. We provide simple interfaces, voice commands for gloved hands on the floor, and quick-reference guides tailored to tasks like logging plasma cuts. Sessions last 2-4 hours, spread over a week to avoid downtime. Follow-up support includes video tutorials and a dedicated line for tweaks. Shops report their crews up to speed in days, with adoption rates over 90% because it directly eases their daily grind—no steep learning curves here.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.