Ray Beste is Sikich’s Principal AI Strategist. With over 35 years of experience in the IT industry, Ray guides Sikich and its clients in the responsible, ethical and effective use of AI. After digesting the results of Sikich’s Manufacturing Industry Pulse survey, which found that most manufacturers are stalling in their AI implementation journey because they don’t see a clear use case, Ray shared his perspective on how leaders can identify high-ROI opportunities at their organization.
The Barrier Is Real and Common
Plenty of manufacturers are still sitting on the sidelines when it comes to AI. One of the main reasons why is pretty simple, according to the Sikich Manufacturing Industry Pulse: they don’t see a clear use case. Without a target, AI becomes a buzzword instead of a business tool.
That’s a missed opportunity. As I noted in the report, “To capture truly transformative data, manufacturers must rethink their workflows with an ‘AI-first’ mentality rather than simply bolting algorithms onto yesterday’s human-centered processes.”
Where AI Is Already Delivering
AI is making a real impact even in early adoption. The Pulse report shows promising results:
- Sales, marketing and customer service: Lower acquisition costs and faster response times
- Finance and administration: Less manual workload, cleaner data for decision-making
- Process optimization: Streamlined workflows and less waste
What ties these wins together? They’re each real, measurable business outcomes.
Translating This Opportunity to the Plant Floor
The same approach works for core manufacturing challenges:
- Quality control: AI can flag defects in real time, preventing scrap and rework.
- Predictive maintenance: Anticipating breakdowns before they stop production.
- Scheduling optimization: Balancing labor and machine availability to meet demand.
- Inventory management: Reducing overstock and shortages through smarter forecasting.
A Simple Framework for Choosing the Right Use Case
- Identify the pain point: Ignore AI for a moment and consider what exactly is costing time or money now.
- Check the data: Is the right information being collected?
- Estimate the value: Quantify the savings or efficiency gains.
- Pilot it: Start in one department or process.
- Scale it: Expand only once results are proven.
From Exploration to Execution
The Pulse data makes it clear: most manufacturers are still cautious. But that caution creates an opening. As Jerry Murphy, Principal and manufacturing services leader, noted, “Executives that choose to act will reap the rewards.” Those who move now in targeted and measurable ways can build a lead before AI becomes industry-standard.
The future isn’t about “having AI.” It’s about using AI where it counts. That’s where ROI lives.
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