Wisconsin Manufacturers Have More AI Opportunity Than They May Realize

Authored by Chortek LLP

Artificial intelligence has moved quickly from a buzzword to a practical business tool. For Wisconsin manufacturers, the question is no longer whether AI will matter. The better question is where to start, who can help, and how to make sure AI investments improve productivity, strengthen the workforce, and create measurable business value.

That is especially important in Wisconsin, where manufacturing remains one of the state’s most important economic engines. According to the 2025-2026 Wisconsin Manufacturing Report, manufacturers continue to face workforce constraints, rising expectations for productivity, and pressure to compete in a fast-changing market. At the same time, many companies are optimistic about growth and increasingly open to new technologies.

The good news is that Wisconsin manufacturers do not have to figure this out alone. Across the state, a growing ecosystem of labs, colleges, grants, and manufacturing support organizations is making AI more accessible, more practical, and more connected to real business problems.

AI is Becoming a Practical Manufacturing Tool

For many manufacturers, the best AI opportunities will not begin with a dramatic transformation. They will begin with specific operational problems.

Where are employees spending too much time on repetitive work? Where are quality issues discovered too late? Where is production data trapped in spreadsheets? Where could forecasting, scheduling, maintenance, customer service, or quoting become faster and more accurate?

These are the types of problems where AI can begin to deliver value. Practical AI use cases may include predictive maintenance, computer vision for quality inspection, automated production scheduling, data analytics, inventory planning, customer support, knowledge management, cybersecurity, and improved reporting.

The opportunity is not simply to “use AI.” The opportunity is to apply AI where it supports better decisions, stronger processes, and a more productive workforce.

The UWM and Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab Brings National AI Expertise to Wisconsin Manufacturers

One of the most significant developments is the AI Co-Innovation Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, developed through Microsoft, UWM, TitletownTech, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The lab is especially notable because it is Microsoft’s first AI Co-Innovation Lab focused on manufacturing innovation. Its purpose is practical: help companies define meaningful use cases, explore feasibility, and build prototypes using Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies.

For Wisconsin manufacturers, that matters. Many companies have ideas for AI but need help turning those ideas into something testable. The lab gives manufacturers access to technical guidance, solution architecture support, and a structured environment for exploring whether an AI concept can solve a real business challenge.

WisTRAIN Funding Can Help Manufacturers Train Their Workforce for AI

AI adoption is not only a technology issue. It is also a workforce issue.

That is why the Wisconsin Training for Resilient Advanced Industry Needs grant program, known as WisTRAIN, is another important opportunity. The program is designed to support employer-led training in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, industrial cybersecurity, data analytics, and digital manufacturing tools.

For eligible employers, WisTRAIN can reimburse a portion of approved training costs. That creates an opening for manufacturers to build skills around the technologies they need to compete, while reducing some of the financial burden of training.

This is particularly useful for companies that already know they need to upskill employees but have delayed action because of cost, time, or uncertainty. WisTRAIN can help turn AI readiness from a future priority into a funded workforce plan.

WCTC’s Applied AI Lab Gives Southeastern Wisconsin a Hands-On AI Resource

Closer to home for many southeastern Wisconsin companies, Waukesha County Technical College is building a strong AI ecosystem through its Applied AI Lab.

The lab is designed for hands-on learning, experimentation, technical assistance, employer collaboration, and startup support. That makes it a practical resource for companies that want to understand how AI works in real-world settings rather than only in theory.

WCTC’s expansion of the lab, supported by a major gift from the PPC Foundation and PieperPower family of companies, is another sign that regional employers see AI as a workforce and economic development priority.

For manufacturers, technical colleges can play a critical role in helping employees build confidence with new tools and helping companies connect AI to the skills needed on the shop floor and in the office.

UW-Stout, WMEP, MKE Tech Hub, and CAM-AI Add Statewide Support

Wisconsin’s AI ecosystem extends beyond southeastern Wisconsin. UW-Stout’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing Outreach Center are helping companies explore advanced manufacturing, automation, machine vision, AI, and technical problem-solving.

In addition, a partnership between WMEP Manufacturing Solutions, the MKE Tech Hub Coalition, UW-Stout MOC, and CAM-AI creates another path for manufacturers seeking practical, business-first guidance. This type of support is important because many manufacturers do not need someone to sell them a tool. They need help identifying the right problem, evaluating whether AI is the right answer, and building a plan that fits their operation, data, people, and budget.

That approach aligns well with how successful AI projects should begin: not with technology for technology’s sake, but with a clear business case.

Wisconsin Has An Opportunity To Do AI “Wisconsinbly”

One of the most important ideas emerging in the state’s AI conversation is that Wisconsin does not need to copy the AI strategies of Silicon Valley or the coasts. It can build an approach that reflects the strengths of Wisconsin’s economy: manufacturing, practical problem-solving, applied education, workforce development, and collaboration.

As Buckley Brinkman wrote in his WisBusiness commentary, “Doing AI Wisconsinbly”, Wisconsin has an opportunity to apply AI in ways that are grounded, useful, and connected to the industries that drive the state’s economy.

That is the right frame for manufacturers. The goal is not to chase every AI trend. The goal is to identify the AI opportunities that can help Wisconsin companies become more productive, more resilient, and more competitive.

How Manufacturers Can Get Started

The best first step is often not a large-scale AI implementation. It is a focused readiness conversation.

Start by identifying a few business challenges where better data, faster decisions, or automation could create measurable value. Then evaluate the systems and data behind those processes. Are the right metrics being captured? Is the data clean and accessible? Are employees trained to use the systems already in place? Is there a clear owner for the process?

From there, companies can choose a small pilot, define success metrics, and engage the right partners. That might include the UWM/Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab for prototyping, WCTC for training and applied learning, WisTRAIN for workforce funding, WMEP or UW-Stout for manufacturing support, or an advisory partner to connect AI opportunities to systems, finance, cybersecurity, and operational strategy.

Chortek’s Perspective: AI Success Starts with Business Fundamentals

At Chortek, we see AI as part of a broader business conversation. The companies that will benefit most from AI are the ones that connect it to clear goals, reliable data, secure systems, strong processes, and measurable financial outcomes.

AI can help manufacturers improve productivity, support employees, strengthen decision-making, and compete more effectively. But successful AI adoption requires more than curiosity. It requires a thoughtful plan.

Wisconsin now has more resources than ever to help manufacturers take that step. The opportunity is here. The companies that begin with practical use cases, prepare their people, and build from early wins will be best positioned to turn AI from an idea into a competitive advantage.