Getting Started with Enterprise AI: A No-Nonsense Guide for Manufacturers

Manufacturers are under pressure to adopt AI, but many struggle to move beyond experimentation. This session provides a practical, executive‑grounded roadmap for getting started with enterprise AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude, with a clear focus on use case development, ROI measurement, data readiness, security, and workforce adoption.

Attendees will learn how leading manufacturers are identifying high‑impact AI use cases across operations, engineering, supply chain, finance, and sales without over‑engineering or disrupting critical systems. The session outlines a repeatable framework for evaluating AI opportunities, prioritizing projects based on business value, and defining success metrics that resonate with both plant leadership and executive teams.

We’ll explore how to establish AI‑ready data foundations, including data quality, permissions, and integration considerations unique to manufacturing environments (MES, ERP, CAD/PLM, historian data). Security and governance are addressed head‑on, with practical guidance on protecting intellectual property, managing access, and aligning AI tools with existing compliance and risk models.

Beyond technology, the session emphasizes the often‑overlooked human side of AI adoption. Attendees will learn how to build AI literacy programs, drive user trust, and embed AI into daily workflows, transforming tools like Copilot and ChatGPT from novelties into productivity multipliers.