AI in the Front Office: How Manufacturers Stay Competitive with Steven Lopez

In this episode of AI Lab Unfiltered, Drew Veach (BizStream) and Pete Tarrin (New Wave) talk with Steven Lopez, Director of Manufacturing Solutions at The Right Place, about what AI really looks like in manufacturing—especially in the front office. They explore how AI can speed up quoting, clean up manual processes, integrate legacy systems, and help manufacturers see where they actually stand competitively. Steven shares how he uses AI to cut research time, run better assessments, and design dynamic tools that give leaders same-day insights—all while tackling fears around change, jobs, and “AI for the sake of AI.” Powered by ThinkTank Thought Leadership. Chapters(00:00) Intro: AI in the manufacturer’s front office(00:38) How ThinkTank Thought Leadership powers this podcast(01:33) Meet Steven Lopez & The Right Place’s mission(02:40) Competitiveness, “ugly babies,” and gap analysis(06:27) Where tech & AI fit in manufacturers’ reality(08:12) Fixing the front end: quotes, ERP, and AI-enabled speed(12:11) AI adoption across 13 counties & different types of manufacturers(17:44) AI as collaborator, org charts, and the future of director roles(23:28) Blank-check vision: AI-powered assessments that protect communities(35:32) Dynamic assessments, avatars, and rethinking how we help manufacturers