A Manufacturer Ready to Work Smarter
This UK-based precision engineering company builds complex parts for some of the world’s most demanding industries, including aerospace, oil & gas, defence, and more. With quality standards sky-high, every part they make requires complete traceability and a huge pack of documentation to prove it meets the mark.
But behind the scenes, things were messy. Creating these ‘Manufacturing Record Books’ (or MRBs) was a slow, manual process. And it was costing them – time, money, and customer trust.
They didn’t need more people. They needed a better way of doing things.
The Problem: Manual Processes Costing Time and Money
To ship a single part, they had to pull together test certificates, quality plans, purchase orders, technical specs, you name it. It took a team of 3-4 people just to put this info together. Then another team to check it.
Even with all that, mistakes still happened, and when they did, customers weren’t happy.
Rejected parts meant returns, rework, delays, and frustration on all sides.
Worse still? Finished parts were just sitting there, waiting for their MRBs to be completed.
That meant inventory couldn’t ship, and invoices couldn’t go out, tying up cash they could’ve been using elsewhere.
They hadn’t tried any tech solutions yet, just small tweaks here and there. Nothing that tackled the core problem.
The Solution: AI-Driven Automation from Ignite AI Partners
That’s where we stepped in. At Ignite AI, we help businesses figure out where AI and automation can make a real difference, and then build the right solution to get there.
We worked with this manufacturer to design a bespoke platform that could take all the stress out of MRB creation. No more cut-and-paste chaos. No more double-checking every last document.
The Plan: Automate the Boring Stuff, Get it Right the First Time
Here’s what we built:
- A platform that pulls all the right documents together automatically for each Work Order
- An AI-powered checker that makes sure everything matches what the customer asked for
- Seamless integration with their existing systems – Progress+, their cloud-based ERP, SharePoint, and Microsoft Azure
And because no two customers are the same, the platform was smart enough to handle all the variations in what different clients needed.
Overcoming Implementation Challenges
We hit a few bumps along the way:
Their data lived on some very old servers – migrating it to the cloud wasn’t simple
Massive files, stored in awkward places, meant we had to redesign the migration plan halfway through
Communication breakdowns with their outsourced IT partner made things tricky, until we brought in a dedicated project manager to pull everything together
Tough? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Efficiency Gains and Cost Reductions
Once the system is fully rolled out, the manufacturer expects to see:
- Around 75% less effort needed from the quality and over-checking teams
- Faster shipping and billing – no more delays while paperwork catches up
- Fewer errors and better relationships with customers
And beyond the numbers, there’s something just as valuable:
A happier team that doesn’t have to waste their day chasing documents.
They’re planning to scale back the over-checking resources over the next few months as confidence in the system grows.
Next Steps: Expanding AI Use Across Operations
Now that they’ve seen what smart automation can do, they’re exploring how AI might help in other areas, like streamlining back office processes or improving how parts move through the workshop.
They’re just getting started.
How Ignite AI Partners Can Help Your Business
If your business is spending too much time on manual paperwork, repetitive admin, or checking the same things twice, you don’t have to keep doing it the hard way.
Just imagine…
A system that builds and checks documents for you, based on exactly what your customer needs
Finished parts that ship on time, without paperwork holding them back
A quality team that spends more time solving problems, and less time chasing paper
Happier customers, better margins, and a smoother operation
At Ignite AI Partners, we help companies find smart, practical ways to make AI and automation actually work for them, no fluff, no gimmicks, just results.
Common FAQs
Manufacturing Record Books (MRBs) are comprehensive documentation packs required in precision manufacturing industries. They include test certificates, quality assurance documents, technical specifications, purchase orders, and other critical paperwork. MRBs provide complete traceability, ensuring products meet industry standards and customer requirements.
AI streamlines manufacturing documentation by automating the collection, organisation, and verification of critical documents. It reduces manual errors, accelerates the preparation process, and ensures compliance. AI-powered tools integrate with existing systems to generate accurate, customer-specific documentation efficiently, helping manufacturers ship products faster and more reliably.
Manufacturers implementing automation typically see substantial ROI, including significant reductions in operational costs, fewer errors, improved product quality, faster shipping times, and increased cash flow. The businesses we have worked with report efficiency gains of up to 70–80%, enabling them to redirect resources toward innovation, growth, and customer satisfaction.
Ready to See Where AI Can Take You?
Whether you’re just getting started or refining your AI strategy, we’ll help you figure out the next best move.
