AI agents for manufacturing that each take one paperwork queue off your office
Six agents built around how a job shop or contract manufacturer actually runs: drawing packages, customer PO revisions, blanket releases, supplier dates, first article paperwork and export-controlled files. Each agent owns one queue, works inside your ERP and email, and hands every price, commitment and PO to a person.
- Each agent answers to the estimator, buyer or inspector it helps
- Connected to your ERP by API or approved export
- Controlled drawings screened before any AI touches them
The queues that never quite get cleared
First article paperwork lands on one quality tech
An AS9102 report means ballooning every characteristic, filling Forms 1 through 3 and collecting material and special process certs. It's due when the parts ship, and it waits behind everything else.
Blanket releases are tracked in someone's inbox
The customer calls off 400 pieces against a 5,000-piece blanket. Remaining quantity, price break and blanket expiration are worked out by hand, if at all.
Controlled files travel by habit
An ITAR-marked drawing gets forwarded to a personal email or pasted into a public chatbot by someone who meant well. Export and CMMC obligations don't care about intent.
The six agents we build for manufacturers
Each is custom code on the major model APIs, connected through official ERP APIs or approved exports, and limited to one job with a human sign-off.
Drawing intake agent
Opens RFQ packages, reads title blocks, rev tables, notes and GD&T callouts, and writes the estimator a one-page part summary with risk features highlighted.
PO revision diff agent
Compares each revised customer PO or EDI 860 with the version on file and reports only what changed: price, quantity, date, rev or terms.
Blanket release tracker
Logs every call-off against its blanket, checks remaining quantity, price break and expiration, and warns inside sales before a blanket runs dry.
Supplier expedite agent
Reads open POs each morning, finds lines without confirmation or past due, ranks them by the job they hold up and drafts the chase emails.
First article packet agent
Assembles AS9102 Forms 1 to 3 or a PPAP checklist from the ballooned drawing, inspection results and certs on file, and lists what's still missing.
Export-marking gatekeeper
Scans incoming files for ITAR, EAR and CUI markings before other agents see them, and routes marked files to the people and systems your leads have cleared.
Where these agents work
RFQ and quoting
The drawing intake agent feeds the quote worksheet.
Sales order entry
PO revision diff and blanket tracking sit in the order flow.
Purchasing
The supplier expedite agent works the open PO list.
Vendor invoices
Invoice capture and matching alongside the purchasing agents.
Custom agent development
NCR write-ups, cert requests or shipping paperwork, built the same way.
The shop-wide plan
Quoting, order entry and purchasing automation for the whole office.
Why these agents fit a regulated shop
Export control comes first in the pipeline
ITAR technical data and CUI under DFARS 252.204-7012 have strict rules on where they may be stored and who may see them. The gatekeeper runs before any model call, and your export and security leads decide where marked files may go.
Built with CMMC assessments in mind
DoD suppliers handling CUI face CMMC requirements aligned to NIST SP 800-171. We document data flows and access so your security lead can judge fit; we don't certify anything.
Quality records stay intact
First article packets, revision checks and cert matches support ISO 9001 and AS9100 records. The quality manager still signs and owns them.
Each agent has a human owner
Estimators, buyers and quality staff approve their agent's output, and we maintain every agent monthly in accounts your company owns.
“He got me 9 sales in my first 7 days of launching our campaign, which exceeded my expectations!”
Common questions
What are AI agents for manufacturing?
Software workers that each own one office queue, such as RFQ drawing intake, PO revisions, blanket releases, supplier expediting or first article packets. They read, prepare and stage, and your staff make the calls.
Can the first article agent sign an AS9102 report?
No. It assembles the forms, characteristic list and supporting certs and shows what's missing. Your inspector verifies measurements and your quality manager signs.
Does the export-marking gatekeeper make us ITAR compliant?
No. It's a safeguard that catches marked files before they reach AI processing. Your empowered official and counsel own ITAR decisions and your overall program.
Can agents work with an on-premise ERP like Epicor or Global Shop Solutions?
Yes, through the ERP's API where it's exposed, or scheduled exports and approved read-only views where it isn't. We confirm access before building.
Will the expedite agent call suppliers?
No. It drafts emails and portal messages for the buyer to send, and logs every response against the PO line.
Do the agents handle PPAP for automotive customers?
The packet agent can track the PPAP elements your customer requires at their submission level and collect the documents on file. Your quality engineer prepares and submits the package.
Give one office queue to an agent first
Take the 2-minute AI audit to see which office backlog is costing your shop the most.
- Time the queue the agent will own
How many RFQs, PO changes, releases or FAI packets arrive each week, and how long each sits. That decides which agent comes first.
- Write its scope with the person who owns the queue
The estimator, buyer or quality manager defines what the agent may read, draft and never touch, and who signs off.
- Shadow real work for several weeks
The agent prepares its output beside the human doing the same job. We fix every disagreement before trusting it with more.
- Hand over routine cases, review monthly
Routine releases or clean PO revisions can move to one-click approval. Each month we review every agent's misses and update its rules.