Some companies might view artificial intelligence (AI) as a new option for data collection or efficiency. Others might experiment with AI in the front office to automate forms or assist with accounting or marketing.
And yet other companies might avoid the idea of AI altogether — and that’s fine, too.
A study now underway by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology as part of Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM), a federal and state-funded grant project, is looking to gauge how manufacturers are using AI at any level. The goal of this public engagement research project is to understand the myriad ways manufacturers are thinking about AI in any capacity.
But to do that, researchers need to hear from the source. That’s why Georgia AIM is looking for manufacturers that are willing to be interviewed about their experiences. All responses will remain anonymous, and interviews include a series of questions about how manufacturing employees use AI for various tasks.
Participants will help shape the future of AI training for manufacturers.
“We’re trying to get a comprehensive understanding of AI in the manufacturing context,” said Reeham Mohammed, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgia Tech’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy who is leading the project.
The focus right now, she said, is connecting with manufacturers to hear about their experiences. Mohammed and her research team invite anyone in the manufacturing industry to email her at rrmohammed@gatech.edu, and she will contact them for an interview. Interviews can take place in-person or virtually and can work with team members’ schedules.
No experience with AI is necessary to take part. For manufacturers using AI, Mohammed said her team is interested in learning about all the ways manufacturers are implementing the technology.
“We’re interested in seeing how AI is being used across the different departments — shop floor workers, accounting, HR, purchasing — how they are using AI,” she said. “Because the understanding of AI is different from one person to another, some people could understand it as automation, which could mean those on the shop floor, but engineers might have a different understanding, and they might use ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot to generate code. Or people in purchasing, marketing, or accounting might be using it to find resources for their work.
“We’re interested in seeing how AI unfolds across the larger manufacturing landscape.”
Manufacturers who take part in the research can benefit, too. Responses will help identify pressing training needs and shape programs that ultimately will help all manufacturers adopt AI in different departments and capacities. But before those programs are developed, it’s imperative to understand the needs of manufacturers and their employees.
Georgia is expected to add tens of thousands of new jobs in the manufacturing sector over the next five years, according to research by the state Department of Economic Development. But many existing as well as new jobs and tasks will change due to AI. Understanding how AI is used — and where manufacturers want training — is imperative.
Mohammed said she’s found some manufacturers who don’t understand AI at all, while others are working through the challenges of AI and automation. Understanding the gaps across the manufacturing sector can be a powerful tool for all companies involved.
“When it comes to skills and day-to-day tasks, what forms of training and work organization are necessary? And, if we want to help manufacturers, what do they really need in that field?” She added. “Participating in this study will be a practical way for manufacturers to understand ways to use AI technology either on or off the shop floor.”
Georgia AIM is a project of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, which works across the state to assist communities in developing practical economic development and workforce solutions. Learn more at georgiaaim.org.