AI That Actually Works on the Shop Floor — A Pragmatic Operator’s Guide with Braydon McCormick

In this episode of the Allied Advisors Podcast, Justin Goethe sits down with Braydon McCormick, C-suite operator, serial entrepreneur, and Co-Founder & Managing Director of Light Forge Works, to cut through the noise surrounding artificial intelligence in manufacturing.Rather than dashboards, chatbots, and “AI for AI’s sake,” Braydon brings an operator-first perspective on how AI should actually be deployed inside mid-market and PE-backed organizations — focusing on real bottlenecks, measurable ROI, and execution on the shop floor.This is a grounded, tactical conversation for leaders who want AI to drive margin, throughput, and enterprise value, not just check a buzzword box.🔑 Key Topics CoveredWhy most AI initiatives fail to deliver ROIThe danger of “AI in search of a problem”How AI can connect siloed systems without massive IT projectsReal examples of communication breakdowns in manufacturing operationsUsing AI to shorten RFP cycles and prevent dropped opportunitiesWhy single-purpose AI applications beat large enterprise rolloutsHow AI augments people instead of replacing themThe economics of modern AI-first software developmentCapEx vs. OpEx thinking for custom AI toolsWhat mid-market manufacturers need to know about AI security and data privacyWhere companies get burned by chatbots and poor AI implementations🚨 Common AI Mistakes Braydon Sees in ManufacturingDeploying chatbots that don’t improve revenue, margin, or serviceTrying to “boil the ocean” instead of solving one clear problemIgnoring broken communication flows between sales, engineering, vendors, and the shop floorTreating AI as a replacement for people instead of an accelerantRolling out tools without validation, guardrails, or human oversight💡 Big TakeawayAI delivers value only when it’s tied to a specific business problem. The real power of AI isn’t flashy interfaces — it’s quietly eliminating friction between systems, people, and processes. When done right, AI dramatically compresses cycle times, reduces errors, and allows teams to operate at a higher level without adding headcount.As Braydon puts it: Don’t ask what AI can do. Ask what problem you’re trying to solve — then apply AI surgically.🧠 AI on the Shop Floor (What Actually Works)The conversation dives deep into how AI can:Read drawings and historical data to support faster engineering decisionsAssist with RFP triage and prioritizationReduce handoffs, rework, and miscommunicationAct as a “gatekeeper” that ensures critical steps aren’t missedEnable faster, cleaner execution without massive ERP replacementsRather than enterprise-wide transformations, Braydon advocates for small, high-impact AI applications that deliver fast wins and compound over time.👤 About Today’s GuestBraydon McCormick is a seasoned C-suite operator and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience helping mid-market and PE-backed companies turn advanced technology into real operating results. As Co-Founder & Managing Director of Light Forge Works, Braydon has led companies from zero to exit-ready, built high-margin services businesses, secured FDA approvals, and developed defensible IP through patented innovation.He specializes in AI-first software development, digital transformation, and operational scaling in complex, regulated environments.📬 Connect with Braydon & Light Forge WorksLight Forge Works: https://www.lightforgeworks.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbmcco/