Moving Beyond the Draft: GenAI in Custom Manufacturing
Moving Beyond the Draft: GenAI in Custom Manufacturing In ETO and MTO manufacturing, writing technical manuals is often a slow, manual data hunt. Engineers spend up to 30% of their time just chasing CAD models, ERP data, and supplier sheets. While some claim Generative AI can instantly "write" these manuals, the 2026 reality is much more practical. AI isn't replacing the engineer; it is acting as an automated assistant to handle the heavy lifting. ⚙️ The 70/30 Rule of AI Documentation The AI handles the 70%: It extracts data from CAD and ERP systems, builds the skeleton draft, populates part tables, and translates for global markets. The Human handles the 30%: Experienced engineers provide the critical "human-in-the-loop" expert review, adding the nuanced tribal knowledge that no software can replicate. 💡 For custom equipment manufacturers, the goal isn't to have completely AI-written manuals. The goal is to eliminate the "documentation tax" and...