In his recent “AI 101” talk at The MFG Meeting, Jannik Wiedenhaupt from Supplyco AI (IMTS booth #237621) addressed a tension felt across the manufacturing industry: manual, repetitive tasks are draining resources and preventing experts from focusing on high-value work. Rather than presenting AI as a "magic wand," Jannik framed it as a tireless, capable “intern” designed to help existing teams do more with less. These interns are critical for manufacturers as the industry is battling with an increasing labor shortage and needs to serve increasingly complex demands with fewer resources.
Jannik focused on three pillars for immediate impact:
Industry-Specific Value: moving past general AI hype to understand what it does for a shop floor
The Five-Step Integration Framework: a practical roadmap for adoption
The Immediate Timeline: how to start the process now, rather than waiting for a "perfect" future
Closing the ROI Gap
Despite 77% of manufacturers adopting some form of AI, many have yet to see a significant return on investment. Jannik explained that the gap is widening between companies that are moving forward strategically and those that are simply sitting back. According to Jannik, the core of AI’s value lies in context, which is the unique, specific data of a business that allows an AI model to perform effective tasks.
To bridge this gap, he advised following a practical five-step plan:
Start with goals: Define clear business objectives first.
Identify wasted time: Pinpoint repetitive, manual friction points.
Connect the dots: Map where AI can save time so people can be reallocated to higher-value goals.
Define a business case: Calculate the expected value and ROI before beginning.
Select the tool: Only after the problem is fully understood should you select, build, or buy a solution.
The presentation emphasized that AI should augment human expertise, not replace it. Case studies shared by Jannik – ranging from tax code verification to specialized sales research – showed that when applied correctly, the results are significant efficiency gains without losing the human element.
From Talk to Tactic: Beyond the Stage
I caught up with Jannik after his talk to discuss the challenge of decision paralysis when AI trends change weekly. He noted that smaller organizations currently hold a distinct advantage; their inherent flexibility allows them to pivot as the field evolves. For immediate ROI, he recommended prioritizing large language models (LLMs) for sales and operations, noting that subscription costs are a fraction of the cost of new headcount.
However, he issued a firm caution on safety: while consumer AI is popular, a corporate policy must mandate “enterprise” versions to ensure data privacy and prevent sensitive proprietary information from training public models.
Jannik outlined a four-point framework for a responsible AI policy:
Establishing organizational standards
Creating a “safe sandbox” for employee experimentation
Being decisive on whether to buy, build, or partner for solutions
Getting "comfy with fast change.” If an implementation fails, reassess and try again in three months.
The Bottom Line: Systems Over Hype
Ultimately, the transition from manual tasks to AI-augmented workflows is rarely a straight line, especially in an industry where "slow and steady" is a fundamental safety requirement. While it is helpful to view AI as a "tireless intern" when starting out, the reality for those looking deeper is that these tools are becoming a core part of a business’s nervous system.
Success in this landscape won’t come from chasing the flashiest weekly trend or using AI to draft better emails. Instead, it requires the disciplined, often unglamorous work of connecting AI to a company’s unique context and data. Becoming a leader in this space requires choosing the right partner now and ensuring experimentation is possible and can be operationalized quickly. If we treat AI as a serious, systemic investment, we can move beyond just "doing more" to fundamentally shifting how value is created on the shop floor and throughout the entire enterprise.
Reflecting the industry’s evolving priorities, IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show introduces two major additions: the Industrial AI Arena and the Industrial AI Conference. IMTS 2026 takes place Sept. 14-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Register now at IMTS.com/Register.
