ADOPT ADVANCED
Technology
Technology is a critical driver of business growth—whether your objectives include improving time-to-delivery, ensuring consistent quality, strengthening workforce training, optimizing materials management, addressing labor gaps or controlling costs.
Industry Extension Services’ Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Deployment team partners with organizations to evaluate current manufacturing processes, conduct in-depth analysis and design a clear path toward a high-performing future state. Using a structured, phased approach, we prioritize practical, cost-effective solutions that can be implemented quickly while building long-term organizational capability and operational efficiency.
Our goal is to collaborate with you throughout your transformation journey—advancing productivity, performance and sustainable growth.
Industry Extension Services offers a comprehensive suite of Artificial Intelligence (AI) training courses and webinars designed to help manufacturers build practical knowledge, improve workforce productivity and confidently apply AI technologies across operations—from frontline teams to organizational leadership.
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AI-Driven Manufacturing: Practical Productivity for Manufacturing Teams is a one-day, hands-on course designed to introduce manufacturing professionals to the practical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday work. This beginner-friendly session focuses on helping participants understand what AI is, how it can be used responsibly and where it can realistically support productivity, quality, and communication across manufacturing operations.
No prior AI or technical experience is required. Participants leave with a practical understanding of how AI can support their role and concrete examples they can apply immediately at work.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
7 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Available as an open enrollment course. Register: https://reporter.ncsu.edu/link/instanceview?courseID=IES-AI-MAN-PROD&deptName=IES&instanceID=000001
Recommended For:
Manufacturing professionals who are curious about AI and seeking a practical, low-risk introduction, including quality and continuous improvement professionals, manufacturing and operations leaders, engineers and technical staff, as well as supervisors, team leads and other support personnel.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Do you have a team of 10 or more employees who would benefit from an on-site, customized AI introductory course for manufacturing?
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
Varies
Format:
Customized, in-person training – contact your Regional Manager to schedule!
Recommended For:
Manufacturing professionals who are curious about AI and seeking a practical, low-risk introduction, including quality and continuous improvement professionals, manufacturing and operations leaders, engineers and technical staff, as well as supervisors, team leads and other support personnel.
Discover how to move beyond AI hype and begin applying practical, real-world solutions through effective prompt engineering and AI agents in this recorded webinar, Smart Prompts, Smarter Factories: AI Agents & Prompt Engineering for Manufacturers.
We’ll introduce frameworks to help you craft powerful prompts that guide AI tools like ChatGPT, and we’ll walk through a hands-on case study: designing a basic AI agent to monitor machine maintenance hours.
Learn how to move beyond buzzwords and start building real value with AI—no coding background required.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
Less than 1 hour
Format:
Pre-recorded free webinar
Coaching:
Customized implementation coaching services are available after course completion.
Recommended For:
Plant managers, engineers, quality professionals and anyone interested in understanding how artificial intelligence can be practically applied to improve operations and decision-making on the manufacturing shop floor.
Customized Transformations
Frontline manufacturing employees manage complex processes, maintain quality standards, and uphold critical safety requirements every day. This webinar explores how artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT can enhance workforce efficiency, support decision-making and help manufacturers address common operational challenges on the shop floor.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
Less than 1 hour
Format:
Pre-recorded free webinar
Recommended For:
Manufacturing professionals, frontline workers, team leaders and technology enthusiasts looking to harness the power of AI to optimize manufacturing processes and overcome industry challenges.
Are you wearing more hats than your job title suggests?
If you’re juggling HR, Safety, Quality, Training—or all of the above—this Lunch & Learn Workshop is for you.
In AI for the Rest of Us: Real-World Tools for Busy Manufacturers, you’ll learn how small and mid-sized manufacturing teams are using artificial intelligence to save time, reduce stress and streamline the daily grind. No coding, no big budgets—just practical, ready-to-use tools that make your work easier and your operation stronger.
What you will learn:
This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools to build a robust succession planning strategy.
You’ll gain practical insights into:
Duration:
Less than 1 hour
Format:
Pre-recorded free workshop
Recommended For:
Manufacturing professionals
Advanced manufacturing experts conduct on-site assessments to evaluate your current operations and identify process optimization opportunities prior to equipment investment, helping determine the most cost-effective technologies aligned with your organization’s specific needs.
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Schedule an on-site automation and process optimization assessment with Industry Extension Services to uncover practical opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs and make informed technology investments that support your operational goals.
Our assessment helps your organization:
Format:
On-site, in-person assessment
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Through a federal grant from the Department of Energy, Industry Extension Services can provide financial assistance to small- to medium-sized manufacturers to offset non-equipment costs associated with adopting and integrating relevant SMART technology.
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NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions is partnering with the NC Department of Commerce on a federal grant from the Department of Energy to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers with the cost of assessing technology needs, identifying solutions, finding vendors and training and implementing SMART technology. An example of a qualified project is as simple as installing sensors that can reduce many of your production and energy costs. All you need to do is purchase the equipment technology and we can help offset the non-equipment costs of implementation!
The Benefits of Smart Manufacturing
Improved efficiency
Smart factories can monitor equipment performance and automate complex processes, improving accuracy and reducing human error.
Increased productivity
Smart factories can use data to identify issues, such as when a machine is slowing down production, and then use artificial intelligence systems to resolve them.
Long-term cost savings
Smart factories can use predictive maintenance to identify potential problems early and address them at a convenient time, which can save money.
Greater flexibility
Smart factories can scale production quickly to meet changing demand and can customize products to meet specific customer needs.
Watch a video to learn more about SMARTER NC
How the program works:
Small-to-medium-sized manufacturers (less than 500 employees) in North Carolina will complete a short application (estimated time to complete: 10 minutes) to determine whether their company is ready to participate in the program. ncstateies.com/sncapp
The SMARTER NC team will review applications. 100 initially qualified companies selected to participate will receive an initial walkthrough viability assessment. Assessment includes verification of application items, confirmation of production systems and collection of information concerning current and future commitments to smart manufacturing*.
*Important: The company should assign a smart manufacturing project decision-maker.
From the initial 100 assessments, 75 small-to-medium-sized manufacturers will be approved to receive comprehensive smart manufacturing technical assessments to help develop implementation project ideas and strategies. Results will be shared with the company to assist with their engagements with 3rd party integrators for a project solution plan and cost proposal.
Project solution plan and cost proposal are to be submitted to SMARTER NC for approval of any reimbursements prior to project start. 50 projects will be approved for partial reimbursement of some project non-equipment costs.
The SMARTER NC team will review the quote and agree to reimburse a matching level of non-equipment costs, including integration and training expenses. Note: Participating companies must provide a matching investment of at least 30% of the project cost. Example: For a $20,000 smart manufacturing implementation project, SMARTER NC can approve reimbursement of up to $14,000. The maximum reimbursement for any company project is $25,000. Average reimbursements are expected to be ~$13,000. The company completes the approved project with 3rd party and submits the agreed-upon reimbursement amount for payment.
To receive SMARTER NC reimbursement funds, approved applicants must:
Target Industries
(but not limited to manufacturers in)
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Advanced manufacturing specialists provide the expertise and resources to help your organization evaluate, adopt, and leverage AM technologies to unlock new design, efficiency and production opportunities.
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Industry Extension Services’ technology experts can navigate the changing tide of business and the technologies that have the greatest impact on your bottom line.
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Staying competitive in manufacturing often requires identifying the right processes, materials and technologies to meet customer expectations for quality, cost and delivery. Our Technology Scouting service helps organizations uncover and evaluate emerging solutions, ensuring your operations stay efficient, innovative and responsive to market demands.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
Varies
Format:
Customized consulting
Recommended For:
Manufacturing leaders, product development teams, and operations or quality professionals seeking to identify and evaluate emerging technologies that can improve processes, reduce costs, accelerate time-to-market and support new product development or market expansion.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Two Industry Extension Services’ recorded webinars provide a practical introduction to smart sensing technologies and their role in modern manufacturing, guiding participants from foundational concepts to advanced industrial applications.
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The “Understanding Mobile Robots…Are They a Good Fit For Your Plant Floor?” webinar breaks down the aggregate topic of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for all to understand.
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If you are new to the technology, have heard about how AMRs can boost operations but are unsure where to start, or would just like a touchstone to gauge where your operational maturity may be, join our resident automation expert for this introduction to the latest mobile robot technologies
Participants will:
Duration:
Less than 1 hour
Format:
Pre-recorded free webinar
Recommended For:
Chief technology officers, chiefs operations officers and process engineers and technicians
