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AI is taking the lead in the administration and gaining new momentum nationwide. On January 23, 2025, the President issued an AI Action Plan in accordance with Executive Order 14179.Remove barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence“It called for the removal of regulatory barriers that hinder AI innovation, directed the development of plans to achieve policy goals to maintain and strengthen “America's global AI domination,” and promoted “human freezes, economic competitiveness, and national security.”
Last August, the US Department of Labor, Commercial and Education published 27 pages.”American Talent Strategy“AI will transform jobs faster than the workforce system can adapt and strengthen the administration's commitment to “dominate the AI frontier” as workers will need new skills to share the prosperity that AI creates. ”
Manufacturing is one of the major sectors of the economy and employs AI at a speed of acceleration. According to a 2024 Innova survey of 125 C-Sweet manufacturers, AI use within the manufacturing sector has surged rapidly from 59% adoption in 2024 to almost complete adoption, predicted within two years. According to the Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC) 2025 survey, 68% of manufacturers say AI will become the “basement of future competitiveness.”
Industrial AI focuses on using real-time data to provide learning processes that can predict, automate and interpret actions from large, complex datasets. (Rockwell Automation, 2025 10th Smart Manufacturing Report Annual. )
Among major manufacturing companies, 81% of C-Suite executives are engaged in AI79% According to the MLC research team, of senior plant leadership, 71% of department/functional leaders are engaged in AI, with only 49% of factory floor supervisors/team leaders.
Researched by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in May 2025 AI in manufacturingfound that manufacturers “develop responsibly, deploying AI to innovate and promote economic competitiveness.” They mainly use AI below.
- Efficiency: Manufacturers Streamline Processes with AI
- Safety: AI technology is deployed to proactively identify and mitigate potential safety hazards to ensure a safe working environment for employees
- Product Development and Design: AI plays a pivotal role in accelerating the product development cycle, allowing for innovative design iterations and enhanced product customization.
- Training: AI-driven training modules and simulations allow manufacturers to enhance employee skills and efficiently enhance employee performance
- Supply Chain: AI integration in supply chain management increases visibility, efficiency and responsiveness across the supply chain ecosystem.
72% of manufacturers serving NAMs report reduced costs and increased operational efficiency after AI technology deployment, while 51% have improved operational visibility and responsiveness after AI technology deployment. After the deployment of AI technology, 41% of reports improved process optimization and control.
The availability of skilled labor is an important consideration when deciding where to place a new factory (Site Selection Group, March 14, 2024). As mentioned above,American Talent Strategy“AI reports that it will transform jobs faster than the labor system can adapt, and workers will need new skills to share the prosperity that AI creates.”
One of the most important resources available to manufacturers to help workers acquire these “new skills” is high quality certificate. The national “gold standard” for certifying manufacturing frontline engineers at the Industry-wide core technical capabilities, the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) first added AI to its list of rapidly occurring Industry 4.0 technologies in 2021, but also includes 5G, 3D, Industrial Internet (IOT), Automsos emantech's Industrial Internet, and Autoloms of Itantics' Internet. Advanced materials.
Rather than preparing individuals to become experts in any of these technologies, the goal was to provide a basic understanding of the technologies associated with working on factory floors, including AI.
Given the rapid acceleration in AI use within domestic factories, MSSC has formed a major AI research group of experts and expanded the list of AI skills and knowledge required by frontline manufacturing and production engineers for potential certification. Research Group Members:
- Leo Reddy, AI Study Group Chair
- Tyler Kennedy, MSSC
- Paul Aiello, Fanuc America Corporation
- Kate Creamer, Advanced CTE
- Bill Bombilian, MIT
- Software Consultant John McFetridge
- Samuel Bottom, Snap-on Inc.
- Craig McAtee, NCATC
- Yang Bray's Bray Strategy
- Harry Moser's re-release initiative
- Paul Perkins, Amatrol Inc.
- Phil Jones, Target
- John Gustafson, Lockheed Martin
- Rich Rummy, A3
- Kendall Hawkins, Rockwell
- Neil Lady, MSSC
- Todd Round, IBM Consulting (Ret.)
The group identified 18 features with manufacturing as AI's top skill area.
- Quality control and error reduction
- Real-time adaptability
- Workers' safety
- Data Literacy
- Robotics and Automation
- Predictive and/or preventive maintenance
- Lots of customization
- Programming and coding recognition
- SchedulingHuman-Machine Collaboration
- Delivery deadlines and order prioritization
- Cybersecurity awareness
- Material availability and JIT inventory control
- Continuous learning
- Machine usage and maintenance schedule.
- Communication skills
- Minimize switching and setup costs
- Ethical AI
One member of the AI Research Group is Paul Perkins, president of Amatrol Inc. Amatrol is a global leader in the production of career and technical education (CTE) training solutions and manufacturing training equipment that future certified players can demonstrate their capabilities. Hands-on. The Paul is in the process of identifying specific AI skills and knowledge items under the 18 AI focus area that may be added to the MSSC Signature Certificate Creation Engineer (CPT) program.
The US faces important global competition in the use of AI in manufacturing. According to a Rockwell report on AI Global Manufacturing Outlook, global trends reflect the US people, with 95% of the world's leading manufacturers planning to invest or invest in AI within the next five years. AI/Machine Learning Technologies ranks number one among the technologies used to address labor shortages, with 55% planning on using AI/ML for quality control within the next 12 months.
East Asia is comparable to the US with its AI Manufacturing Global Leadership. Taiwan's TSMC, China and South Korea are rapidly deploying AI across the manufacturing sector. It sets up new global benchmarks in the US and challenging rebroadcast efforts, and operates over 30,000 smart factories in China.
Major companies like Xiaomi and BYD are better than their Western rivals through fully automated production lines. (Source: Diplomat, “The Rise of AI Manufacturing in China and South Korea,” May 2025.
These developments will strengthen AI skill sets across industrial bases in the US and increase the urgency to prepare the US workforce. The May 2025 NAM Report provides a welcome assurance that the American manufacturing sector is responding responsibly.
At the Factory Floor Engineer Certification level, MSSC concludes it is time to significantly expand AI content within its CPT certification program. These certified supplies motivate factory floor production engineers and enhance AI use.
