This six-week pilot, offered in partnership with Cheryl Thompson Advisory and the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, is designed for small and mid-sized manufacturing companies.
Your most experienced employees hold valuable knowledge that often lives only in their heads. This hands-on program helps manufacturers use AI to capture that knowledge, build practical AI-powered workspaces, and streamline the everyday work that keeps operations moving—from training and documentation to onboarding, project coordination, and communication.
This isn't about robotics or automating machinery. It's about using AI to improve the paperwork, processes, handoffs, and communication that support your plant's day-to-day operations.
Program Overview
AI Systems for Manufacturers helps manufacturing teams build real AI workspaces for recurring operational bottlenecks. In this program, you will develop systems for training, documentation, knowledge transfer, onboarding, project follow-through, and leadership communication. This training focuses on applying AI to the operational processes that support manufacturing rather than robotics and machine automation.
Each session begins with a live demonstration, followed by time to build your own custom system using your own company’s materials. Teams develop practical tools they can bring back to work immediately. Responsible use of AI is a key part of every session, with people retaining judgment and ownership of the work.
Designed For
Manufacturers with roughly 50 to 500 employees that have established operations but limited IT support. Smaller shops and individual Tier 1 plants are also welcome. The program is suited to companies with a recurring bottleneck and someone ready to build a solution.
Most companies send three participants:
- An owner, president, or operations leader who owns the work and can authorize decisions.
- A hands-on builder, often from quality, process, or continuous improvement.
- An HR, training, or learning lead who can bring the approach back to the wider team.
Duration and Format
Format
Six weeks / Six sessions / First and final sessions in-person / Four 90-minute virtual sessions
Pre-work before each session helps teams arrive with their own company materials for tailored solutions. Optional office hours and setup support are available. This program was designed to be tool agnostic so teams can use their company approved tools—whether that be Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini.
Program Dates
- Jan 29: In-Person from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Feb 5: Remote from 10-11:30 a.m.
- Feb 12: Remote from 10-11:30 a.m.
- Feb 19: Remote from 110-11:30 a.m.
- Feb 26: Remote from 110-11:30 a.m.
- Mar 5: In-Person from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost
The full cost of this program will be $2400 per participant. Registration form coming soon.
Credential
Upon successful completion of the program requirements, you will be awarded a skills-mastery certificate from the University of Michigan Center for Innovation.
Interested in learning more? Contact Amy Tuckfield at [email protected].
Program Arc
1: Training
Build training guides, checklists, and checks from your company’s procedures.
2: Documentation
Create and update work instructions, and check for steps that have become outdated.
3: Knowledge Transfer
Capture experienced employees’ knowledge so it can be shared across the team.
4: Onboarding
Support new hires with clear responsibilities for managers, buddies, and HR.
5: Project Follow Through
Keep projects moving with tools that reduce the need to chase updates.
6: Communication
Adapt corporate messages for clear, useful communication on the plant floor.
What You Will Walk Away With
- An AI workspace for each system your team builds, loaded with your own company’s information.
- Saved prompts and skills that perform specific jobs within those workspaces.
- A repeatable method for building additional AI workspaces independently.
- A peer group of manufacturers working through similar questions.
Meet the Instructor
Cheryl Thompson started on the floor at Ford and worked her way through a tool and die apprenticeship into engineering and manufacturing leadership. At Ford, she led approximately 500 hourly and salaried employees across five U.S. locations. At American Axle and Manufacturing (now Dauch), she led a global prototype team across the U.S., Mexico, Germany, and Poland.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing from Siena Heights University and an MBA from Michigan State University while working full-time. Cheryl later founded and ran an industry organization serving more than 70 automotive companies, building programs and working with leaders on learning and change.
Today, she is the founder of Cheryl Thompson Advisory and an advisor, educator, and speaker who helps individuals, organizations, and small businesses turn AI into practical action. Her approach keeps people responsible for judgment while AI removes unnecessary work, with an emphasis on building something participants can use on Monday.
Is This Program For You
This program may be a good fit if your team:
- Wants to move beyond basic AI literacy to practical experience applying AI to recurring manufacturing workflows.
- Has company materials to work with and is motivated to build real solutions.
- Would like to save time recreating documents, tracking updates, or answering repeat questions so that they can focus on higher value work.
- Wants to preserve employee knowledge and improve training and onboarding.
This program is NOT for you if:
- You’re hoping to show up and have AI “just work.” Each session, you build something, and that takes some of your time between sessi
- You want a general AI overview or a software demo. Every session is hands-on, using your own company’s materials.
- You’re looking for robotics, machine automation, or IT integration. This program doesn’t cover those.
- Nobody on your team has the time or authority to carry this back to the plant. Without an owner, the tools you build go unused.
- You want AI to replace people or decisions. Your people stay in charge of the judgment calls, and the tools take work off their plates.
- You have no way to get a licensed AI account. We provide sample materials, but you’ll need one of the paid tools to build.
- You are unable to commit to most of the sessions. Every session is recorded, but the learning comes from building alongside others.