Foundations of Gen AI in Manufacturing

This unit introduces generative AI concepts and the ‘1-degree world’ of hyperconnectivity as they apply to manufacturing, framing how causal agents, human roles, and decision methodologies reshape operations. It examines ethical, leadership, governance, and workforce implications and prepares students to design high-level AI-ready workflows and roadmaps that will be implemented in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze core concepts of generative AI and the ‘1-degree world’ to explain their impacts on manufacturing decision-making, connectivity, and business functions
• Evaluate ethical, governance, and leadership considerations in adopting generative AI and recommend policies to promote responsible, human-centered AI use in manufacturing
• Apply causal methodology and human-in-the-loop principles to design a high-level decision workflow that integrates AI agents and human oversight for a manufacturing process
• Develop a preliminary AI workforce transformation roadmap for a manufacturing organization (small, medium, or large) that includes upskilling strategies, change-management steps, and measurable success indicators