When Your Shop Is No Longer Bound by Geography w/ Sanjeev Singh Sahni

The Manufacturing Executive · 18 Aug 2026 · 33m · Episode 323

AI in practice: 3 real uses of AI described

What this episode covers

Sanjeev Singh Sahni, CEO of Xometry, explains how the company is using data and AI to digitize the custom manufacturing market, which currently has less than 1% online penetration compared to 80% for books. He details the inefficiency of manual RFQs and how Xometry’s platform integrates directly with design software like Siemens to provide instant pricing and supplier matching. Sahni highlights how this digital infrastructure dissolves the traditional 30-to-50-mile geographic radius for machine shops, allowing specialized facilities to take on diverse work such as aerospace and medical devices regardless of location. The conversation emphasizes Xometry's strategy of treating manufacturers as 'partners' rather than suppliers, providing them with tools like a mobile app and AI-driven job recommendations to focus on production rather than sales.

AI in practice

Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.

Engineering & simulationSiemens design software

Xometry embedded its pricing and intelligence engines directly into Siemens' design software, allowing engineers to receive instant pricing and partner matching within their CAD tools without leaving the design environment.

“we've actually now started to take our pricing and intelligence engines and embed them directly into design softwares. We announced a strategic partnership with Siemens. … making the manufacturing capacity accessible to all, but accessible right in the tools that they're working in…”

Sanjeev Singh Sahni · Hear it at 9:09

Engineering & simulationXometry data science and machine learning models

Xometry converts customer 3D CAD files into geometric representations and uses machine learning models to automatically calculate pricing and determine manufacturability, replacing manual quoting processes.

“we applied data science and machine learning models to pricing. So we take 3D models that come from our customers and convert those into geometric representations. And then those data science and machine learning models help price what the likely price so that could be.”

Sanjeev Singh Sahni · Hear it at 14:43

Sourcing & supply chainXometry AI

Xometry applies AI to its partner mobile app to personalize the job board, using data on machine types, job history, and timing to surface the most relevant jobs to manufacturers immediately upon login.

“We've actually not started to apply AI to make sure that when they open the app, the 1st page has the most relevant jobs for that … that's truly personalized to what they've been doing and working on and what they like to do.”

Sanjeev Singh Sahni · Hear it at 14:43

Mentioned

Companies
Xometry, Siemens, Wayfair, McKinsey, Citibank, IBM, Guerrilla 76, Castlegate Forwarding, Disney Institute, Amazon, Instacart, Google
Products
ChatGPT, Gemini
Also
IIT BHU, IIM Lucknow, Yale School of Management

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