306: From Systems of Record to Systems of Action: Putting AI to Work in Manufacturing with Sanjay Brahmawar

Manufacturing has a lot to gain from AI, and a lot to lose by waiting.

Recorded at mHUB in Chicago’s West Loop during IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show), Chris sits down with Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone, to talk about what AI could mean for an industry facing 500,000 open manufacturing jobs and a growing need to do more with the people it already has.

They also look at what happens when systems of record become systems of action, and how that changes the way manufacturers respond to problems on the shop floor.

In this episode, find out:

• How a career that started on a Honda engine line shaped Sanjay's view of manufacturing as managing constraints
• Why manufacturers don't need to replace their existing technology before putting AI to work
• How AI can turn a system of record into a system of action on the factory floor
• What QAD Redzone learned after giving line leads an AI agent before bringing their supervisors into the conversation
• Why some manufacturers are willing to set aside 5-7% of their IT budget for AI
• How a month of 24/7 bug fixing, complete with its own t-shirts, helped QAD Redzone rebuild customer trust

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Tweetable Quotes:

• "The role of AI is not to replace the human being. The role of AI is to make that human being, that talent, 3 to 4x more powerful." - Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone
• "Manufacturing is a show-me world. It is not a tell-me world." - Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone
• "Nobody in manufacturing is sitting there waiting for somebody to give them AI. They only want it if it impacts their outcomes." - Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone

Links & mentions:

• STÄUBLI is a leading manufacturer of quick connector systems, covering connection needs for all types of fluids, gases, and electrical power.
• QAD Redzone is the manufacturing AI platform built for the mid-market, bringing AI into the ERP and the workflow where decisions get made.
• mHUB is a Chicago hard tech platform that brings young companies together with networks of entrepreneurs, advisors, and capital.

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.