In this episode of the Allied Advisors Podcast, Justin Goethe sits down with Braydon McCormick, C-suite operator, serial entrepreneur, and Co-Founder & Managing Director of Light Forge Works, to cut through the noise surrounding artificial intelligence in manufacturing.

Rather than dashboards, chatbots, and “AI for AI’s sake,” Braydon brings an operator-first perspective on how AI should actually be deployed inside mid-market and PE-backed organizations — focusing on real bottlenecks, measurable ROI, and execution on the shop floor.

This is a grounded, tactical conversation for leaders who want AI to drive margin, throughput, and enterprise value, not just check a buzzword box.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Why most AI initiatives fail to deliver ROI
• The danger of “AI in search of a problem”
• How AI can connect siloed systems without massive IT projects
• Real examples of communication breakdowns in manufacturing operations
• Using AI to shorten RFP cycles and prevent dropped opportunities
• Why single-purpose AI applications beat large enterprise rollouts
• How AI augments people instead of replacing them
• The economics of modern AI-first software development
• CapEx vs. OpEx thinking for custom AI tools
• What mid-market manufacturers need to know about AI security and data privacy
• Where companies get burned by chatbots and poor AI implementations

🚨 Common AI Mistakes Braydon Sees in Manufacturing

• Deploying chatbots that don’t improve revenue, margin, or service
• Trying to “boil the ocean” instead of solving one clear problem
• Ignoring broken communication flows between sales, engineering, vendors, and the shop floor
• Treating AI as a replacement for people instead of an accelerant
• Rolling out tools without validation, guardrails, or human oversight

💡 Big Takeaway

AI delivers value only when it’s tied to a specific business problem. The real power of AI isn’t flashy interfaces — it’s quietly eliminating friction between systems, people, and processes. When done right, AI dramatically compresses cycle times, reduces errors, and allows teams to operate at a higher level without adding headcount.

As Braydon puts it: Don’t ask what AI can do. Ask what problem you’re trying to solve — then apply AI surgically.

🧠 AI on the Shop Floor (What Actually Works)

The conversation dives deep into how AI can:

• Read drawings and historical data to support faster engineering decisions
• Assist with RFP triage and prioritization
• Reduce handoffs, rework, and miscommunication
• Act as a “gatekeeper” that ensures critical steps aren’t missed
• Enable faster, cleaner execution without massive ERP replacements

Rather than enterprise-wide transformations, Braydon advocates for small, high-impact AI applications that deliver fast wins and compound over time.

👤 About Today’s Guest

Braydon McCormick is a seasoned C-suite operator and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience helping mid-market and PE-backed companies turn advanced technology into real operating results. As Co-Founder & Managing Director of Light Forge Works, Braydon has led companies from zero to exit-ready, built high-margin services businesses, secured FDA approvals, and developed defensible IP through patented innovation.

He specializes in AI-first software development, digital transformation, and operational scaling in complex, regulated environments.

📬 Connect with Braydon & Light Forge Works

• Light Forge Works: https://www.lightforgeworks.com
  
  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbmcco/