# The Emerging Role of AI Agents in Manufacturing w/ Naresh Ram

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2025-04-08
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 252
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-cd461c43-d86a-4844-b298-b10216b2f2f0

## Summary

Naresh Ram, Chief Science Officer at AAXIS, discusses the transition from basic chatbots to autonomous AI agents in manufacturing, highlighting their ability to execute complex workflows like inventory checks and production scheduling. He details specific use cases, including a large automotive company saving $20 million annually on shipping chargebacks and an HVAC manufacturer using agents to navigate complex tariff regulations. Ram emphasizes that AI adoption is becoming affordable for small and medium-sized businesses, drawing parallels to the early adoption of cloud infrastructure, and outlines a four-step implementation strategy focused on vision, data preparation, and upskilling.

## Chapters

- [0:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=37) Introduction: Naresh Ram and AAXIS
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=314) AI Agents in Shipping Chargebacks: $20M Savings Case Study
- [8:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=499) Automating Order-to-Production Workflows with AI Agents
- [11:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=699) AI Adoption in SMEs: Affordability and Cloud Parallels
- [16:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=997) Navigating Tariffs and Supply Chain with AI Agents
- [20:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=1258) Jevons Paradox and the Future of Manufacturing Jobs
- [23:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-04-08-the-emerging-role-of-ai-agents-in-manufacturing-w-naresh-ram#t=1414) Four Steps to AI Implementation: Vision, Data, and Upskilling

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Gorilla 76 (company)
- OpenAI (company)
- Anthropic (company)
- Amazon (company)
- DeepSeek (other)
- Llama (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [295: Reindustrialization, AI Agents, and the Future of Manufacturing with First Resonance CEO Karan Talati](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-07-14-295-reindustrialization-ai-agents-and-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-first-res) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Purpose-Built AI for Manufacturing: How AI Agents Are Transforming Workflows on the Factory Floor with Apprentice CEO Angelo Stracquatanio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-01-bonus-purpose-built-ai-for-manufacturing-how-ai-agents-are-transforming-workflow) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [306: From Systems of Record to Systems of Action: Putting AI to Work in Manufacturing with Sanjay Brahmawar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-10-13-306-from-systems-of-record-to-systems-of-action-putting-ai-to-work-in-manufactur) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Is ARR a Myth?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-06-19-is-arr-a-myth) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Down at the Doctor's with Dr. Bill Cardoso and Dr. Eric Miscoll: AI Curiosity, Tariff Turmoil, Economic Uncertainty, and Much More](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-03-25-down-at-the-doctors-with-dr-bill-cardoso-and-dr-eric-miscoll-ai-curiosity-tariff) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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