initial implementation challenges while building toward enhanced analytical capabilities. Coduti frames the approach as essential groundwork for advanced technologies. “It’s been about infrastructure in getting the data in place,” he says. “But now that you have the data, this is where AI can truly start to step up and help and streamline a lot of aspects of our business.” The company plans significant investments in artificial intelligence applications throughout 2026, focusing on production planning, labor management, and processing the vast datasets generated by connected equipment. Rather than replacing human expertise, these systems will accelerate analysis that currently consumes considerable time, allowing managers to identify inefficiencies and optimization opportunities faster than manual review permits. SMART AUTOMATION AND THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING WORK Foundries and machine shops face a persistent challenge: attracting younger workers to careers that involve heavy materials, heat, and physical labor. “These are careers that are not as desirable as some of the other fancy tech stuff going forward,” Coduti acknowledges. “Personnel resources are always a challenge for any manufacturer going forward. How are you getting the younger generation interested in coming to work in a foundry or manufacturing environment?” Winsert’s response centers on automation that improves safety and reduces the physical demands of manufacturing work. The company focuses particularly on material handling, where most workplace injuries occur.“If you start to look at where most injuries or accidents happen, it’s in material handling, not in the actual piece of equipment itself,” Coduti notes. “It’s lifting too heavy of a load or an awkward transfer of product from one bin or table to another.”Automated loading and unloading systems eliminate these high-risk manual tasks, making the work environment safer and more appealing to potential employees. Artificial intelligence fits into this strategy as a complement rather than replacement. “I don’t see AI necessarily replacing anything that happens in our 164 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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