Practical notes on AI applications in manufacturing: documentation workflows, service, sales engineering, ROI in mid-size factories.
A service assistant is only as good as the knowledge you feed it. This post is about that knowledge: where it lives, how it reaches the model, why retrieval sometimes fails, and how to keep quality from rotting as ticket volume grows.
An AI service assistant isn't for everyone, but a mid-sized manufacturer has exactly the data and pain profile where it pays off. What it actually does, where it works, and what not to count in the business case.
How AI-driven generation of work instructions actually works in mid-size manufacturing. Pipeline architecture, cost categories (pilot PLN 30 to 70k, full deployment 4 to 6 months), when ROI lands under 18 months, when to skip.
Five concrete AI workflows that pay off in under 18 months at a mid-sized European manufacturer. Service assistant, SOP generation, drawing-to-offer, knowledge orchestration, audit support. Numbers, pitfalls, and a 4-week framework to start.