For Custom Fabrication Shops

Stop Losing Weeks to Manual Hiring in Your Shop Automate Recruiting and Cut Time-to-Hire by 60%

Imagine reclaiming 15+ hours per week from sifting through welder resumes and scheduling interviews, so your foremen can focus on the floor instead of the phone. That's the ROI we're building for fabrication shops like yours.

Join 50+ businesses with faster hires and zero subscription headaches

Slash resume screening time from days to minutes
Automate interview slots around your production shifts
Boost qualified hires by targeting skilled tradespeople precisely

The "Talent Shortage" Problem

Endless Hours Scrolling LinkedIn and Indeed for Certified Welders and CNC Machinists Specializing in MIG and TIG Processes

Foremen Pulled Off the Shop Floor for Phone Interviews

Resumes Piling Up with No Quick Way to Spot Proficiency in CAD Software like AutoCAD or SolidWorks for Structural Design

Missed Deadlines Because Key Fabricators Quit Without Notice

Overtime Costs Skyrocketing from Understaffed Production Lines During Peak Fabrication Runs for Custom Steel Components

Struggling to Match OSHA Safety Certifications and Forklift Operation Licenses to Urgent Needs on Construction Sites

Our Custom-Built Recruiting Automation for Your Fabrication Workflow

We've engineered solutions for fabrication shops just like yours, integrating AI directly into your shop management systems to handle the unique hiring pains of skilled trades.

Why Choose Us

Let's be honest, in custom fabrication, you can't afford downtime waiting for the right welder or CNC operator. That's why we build AI recruiting systems tailored to your exact needs—from scanning resumes for TIG welding experience to auto-scheduling interviews around your three-shift rotations. No off-the-shelf nonsense. We code it to fit your workflow, pulling data from your ERP and job boards to source candidates who know metal bending tolerances and blueprint reading inside out. Here's the thing: this isn't just automation; it's a productivity booster that pays for itself in months by slashing your hiring costs.

What Makes Us Different:

AI screens for shop-specific skills like plasma cutting or ASME certifications
Automates outreach to local trade schools and union halls
Integrates with your scheduling software to book interviews without double-booking shifts

Unlock Real Time Savings and ROI in Your Hiring Process

Save 15+ Hours Weekly on Manual Screening

Save 15+ Hours Weekly on Manual Screening: You're probably thinking about those stacks of unqualified resumes cluttering your desk—resumes from folks without hands-on experience in plasma cutting or blueprint reading. Our AI does the heavy lifting, filtering for fabrication pros with proven track records in custom steelwork and AWS welding certifications. Shops report hiring skilled operators 40% faster, turning what used to be a full day's frustration into a quick 30-minute daily review. That's pure efficiency, freeing your foremen to oversee shop floor assembly without the hiring drag.

Cut Hiring Costs by 50% with Smarter Sourcing

Cut Hiring Costs by 50% with Smarter Sourcing: In manufacturing, every delayed structural steel project eats into margins—think holding up a bridge beam delivery. We automate candidate sourcing from niche sites like the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association listings and AWS job boards, reducing reliance on expensive agencies that charge $5K+ per placement. One client shaved $20K off annual recruiting fees for millwright hires, reinvesting that into new CNC tooling for aluminum extrusion lines. It's like upgrading your shop's conveyor belt—smoother flow, less waste, and a clear ROI from day one with payback in under three months.

Boost Productivity with Faster Onboarding

Boost Productivity with Faster Onboarding: Picture this: a new sheet metal fabricator with ASME certifications starts next week instead of next month, ready to jump on ductwork assembly. Our system matches safety certs and skills to job specs automatically—like pairing forklift operators to warehouse needs—speeding time-to-hire and minimizing overtime burn on understaffed lines. Expect a 25% productivity lift as your lines stay staffed through peak seasons, all without the chaos of manual tracking in your ERP system. It's field-tested for shops running lean crews on custom fabrication jobs.

What Clients Say

"Before AIQ Labs, we were losing two weeks every time a fabricator walked out on our aluminum extrusion line—scrambling through Indeed for anyone certified in TIG welding who could handle 6061 alloy setups. Now, their system flags qualified guys with AWS certs in under 48 hours, and we've filled three spots in the last quarter without pulling supervisors off the shop floor. Saved us over $15K on temp labor for those urgent bridge component runs."

Mike Reynolds

Lead Welder Foreman, Precision Metal Works Inc. (Specializing in Aerospace Fabrication)

"Hiring for CNC programmers was a nightmare; resumes looked good on paper but half lacked real-world experience with SolidWorks modeling for custom steel brackets. The custom AI they built scans for that expertise and auto-schedules interviews around our three-shift operations. Dropped our time-to-hire from 45 days to 18, and our scrap rates on precision jobs fell by 20% because we're getting better skill matches for automotive parts production."

Sarah Chen

Talent Acquisition Lead, Apex Fabrication Co. (Custom Steel Components for Automotive)

"We run tight deadlines on structural steel projects for commercial builds, so vacancies in our welding crew kill productivity and safety compliance. AIQ's automation integrated with our ERP to source local welders with current AWS D1.1 certs and OSHA 10-hour training. Hired two in a month for beam fabrication, cut overtime by 30% during our summer backlog, and finally cleared our queue without quality dips. No more generic tools—just tailored for our high-volume shop needs."

Tom Vargas

Production Operations Director, BuildForge Manufacturing LLC (Structural Steel for Commercial Construction)

Simple 3-Step Process

Step 1

Map Your Shop's Hiring Workflow

We dive into your current process— from posting for millwrights to verifying OSHA training. This ensures our AI fits seamlessly, like custom tooling for your CNC machine.

Step 2

Build and Integrate the AI System

Our engineers code the automation to pull from your systems and industry sources, screening for skills like blueprint interpretation. Test it on real hires to iron out kinks before launch.

Step 3

Launch, Train, and Optimize

Go live with your team, plus hands-on training for foremen. We monitor for the first month, tweaking for peak efficiency—like fine-tuning a lathe for precision cuts.

Why We're Different

We build from scratch for your fabrication quirks, not force-fit generic templates that break on shift rotations
True ownership means no monthly subs—your AI is a shop asset, scalable as you add lines
Engineers with manufacturing roots understand pains like sudden quits during rush jobs
Deep integrations with tools like Procore or Epicor, avoiding the brittle links that stall production
Field-tested on real shop floors, delivering ROI in quarters, not years
Focus on quantifiable wins: hours saved, hires faster, costs down—proven in metal shops
No vendor lock-in; we hand over the keys to a unified system you control
Prioritize skilled trade sourcing over volume, targeting pros who stick around
Custom UIs built for shop use—dashboards viewable on tablets amid the weld sparks
Ongoing tweaks based on your feedback, evolving with industry shifts like new fab tech

What's Included

AI resume parser tuned for fabrication skills like MIG welding and tolerances
Automated sourcing from trade networks and local apprenticeship programs
Intelligent matching for certifications (e.g., AWS, ISO) to job specs
Shift-aware interview scheduling synced with your production calendar
Custom dashboard for tracking candidate pipelines in real-time
Integration with shop management software for seamless data flow
Bias-reduced screening to ensure diverse, qualified talent pools
Automated follow-up emails personalized to candidate experience
Reporting on hiring metrics like cost-per-hire and time-to-productivity
Mobile alerts for urgent roles, like emergency welder needs
Knowledge base of past hires to refine future searches
Scalable for growing from 20 to 200 employees without rework

Common Questions

How does this automation handle the unique skills needed in custom fabrication?

We tailor the AI to recognize fabrication-specific terms right from the start. For instance, it scans resumes for experience with hydraulic presses or laser cutting, not just generic 'manufacturing.' We've worked with shops where it identifies candidates skilled in custom aluminum dies, pulling from sources like the Fabricators Association. The system learns from your past hires, improving matches over time. Setup takes about two weeks, and it integrates with your existing job posting tools. Shops see a 35% better fit rate in the first month, reducing training time on the floor. It's all custom-coded to your workflow, so no generic misses.

What kind of time savings can a small fab shop expect?

Let's be honest, small shops lose big on manual recruiting. Our system saves 10-20 hours weekly by automating screening and initial outreach. For a 25-person operation, that's like adding a part-time recruiter without the payroll hit. One client, running custom steel beams, went from 30 hours chasing leads to 5, focusing instead on quality checks. ROI kicks in fast—payback in 3-6 months through lower agency fees and faster fills. We track it with built-in metrics, adjusting as your shop scales.

Is this secure for handling sensitive shop data like employee certs?

Security is non-negotiable in manufacturing, especially with proprietary designs. We build with end-to-end encryption and comply with standards like GDPR and SOC 2. Data stays in your controlled environment—no cloud leaks. For certs like welding qualifications, access is role-based: foremen see matches, HR handles details. We've audited systems for shops dealing with defense contracts, ensuring no breaches. Plus, you own the code, so full transparency on data flows. It's like locking your shop gate at night—solid protection for your operations.

How do we get started without disrupting shop operations?

We keep it low-impact. First, a quick audit of your hiring process—done via a 1-hour call and shared docs, no downtime. Then, we prototype the AI on a test batch of resumes while your team runs as usual. Rollout phases in over two weeks, starting with screening only. Training is hands-on but short: 30 minutes for key users. A fabrication client integrated it during a slow season, filling roles seamlessly by month-end. No big bang—just steady efficiency gains without halting production lines.

Can this scale if our shop expands to more custom projects?

Absolutely, it's designed for growth. As you add lines for, say, aerospace parts, the AI scales by incorporating new skill filters like titanium welding. We use modular code, so expanding from 50 to 150 hires means tweaks, not rebuilds. One shop grew their custom fab division and adapted our system in days, handling 2x the volume without added headcount. Metrics show sustained 50% time savings even at scale, keeping your ROI strong as projects ramp up.

What if the AI misses a great candidate from a non-traditional background?

We build in flexibility to catch those gems. The AI starts with your criteria but includes a human-review queue for edge cases, like a self-taught machinist with killer portfolio work. It also learns from feedback—if you hire someone it overlooked, we refine the model. In construction-adjacent fabs, this caught vets transitioning from field work with hidden blueprint skills. Over time, accuracy hits 90%+, but you always have the final say. It's collaborative, not rigid—like a smart apprentice who gets better with guidance.

Ready to Get Started?

Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.