AI in manufacturing: where it helps in mechanical engineering and production
In industrial companies, the most valuable knowledge lies in technical documents, quotes, service cases and the experience of long-serving employees. AI helps wherever a lot of text, many variants and little time come together. This page shows typical areas of use, the connection to ERP and databases, and what to watch out for.
Areas of use in manufacturing and mechanical engineering
Quotes and tenders
Summarise requirement specifications and bills of quantities, check requirements against your own documents, prepare quote texts. More in Proposals and tenders with AI.
Technical documentation
Create operating manuals, maintenance plans and change documentation faster and keep them up to date.
Service and maintenance
Structure fault reports, search maintenance instructions, find solutions from previous service cases.
Development and design engineering
Explain and review code, search standards and guidelines faster. See AI for developers and engineers.
Knowledge retention
Document the knowledge of experienced colleagues before they retire.
Purchasing and administration
Reading invoices, supplier correspondence, reports for management.
Connecting your systems
The greatest benefit comes when the AI does not just write, but accesses your data.
- ERP and CRM. Individual connection to systems such as SAP or weclapp – for example article master data, order status or customer data.
- Databases. SQL databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server, and legacy systems via interfaces and webhooks.
- Over 3,000 apps. Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Jira, Slack and more from the Business plan upwards.
- Your own MCP servers. In the Enterprise plan, you connect your own tool servers based on the Model Context Protocol.
Which connection makes sense for you is something we clarify in an initial consultation. An overview of all options is on AI solutions for business.
What industrial companies should pay particular attention to
- Protect design data and know-how. Platform in a German data centre, models in the EU, no training on your data. Details on GDPR-compliant AI.
- Customer requirements. Many OEMs now ask how suppliers handle AI and data. A documented solution with a data processing agreement (DPA) answers that question.
- EU AI Act. For most use cases, transparency and training obligations apply, not high-risk requirements. See The EU AI Act for mid-sized companies.
- Bring employees along. In production and service, scepticism is often greater than in the office. How to succeed is described in AI acceptance.
Example: from requirement specification to draft quote
Upload the specification
The AI summarises the requirements and highlights mandatory criteria, deadlines and open points.
Compare with your own documents
An assistant with your product data sheets and reference texts checks what you cover and where there are gaps.
Draft quote
The draft is created in your Word template; your team checks prices and technical commitments.
More on this process in Proposals and tenders with AI. How to secure the knowledge of experienced employees is explained on Knowledge management with AI.
Frequently asked questions about AI in manufacturing
Where does AI pay off first in a mechanical engineering company?
Usually in quotes and tenders, technical documentation and service – wherever a lot of text is produced in many variants and the result is easy to check.
Can the AI access our ERP system?
Yes, via an individual connection, for example to SAP or weclapp, or via databases. You decide which data the AI may see.
Is design data used to train the AI?
No. Only models that contractually do not train on customer data and do not store requests are enabled.
How long does it take to introduce AI?
Access is available immediately after the trial. The onboarding workshop produces a 90-day roadmap; we plan individual system connections together. See AI rollout in 90 days.
Is there a local contact person?
Yes. novendix is based in Schwabach with offices in Nuremberg and Weißenburg; on-site meetings are possible.
Test it with a real use case
Ten days free – for example with a current requirement specification or an operating manual. For connecting your systems, we arrange an initial consultation.
Your secure AI platform for the Mittelstand. Secure. Intelligent. Integrated. Custom database integration, personally supported.
novendix GmbH · Industriestraße 6 · 91126 Schwabach
Locations: Schwabach · Weißenburg · Nuremberg
A company of the L&S Lange & Schermer Group
