AI won’t replace factory workers - just how they work

I had a great conversation recently with Vaibhav Deshmukh, who leads supply chain at a major EV manufacturer in California. We got talking about AI in manufacturing - what’s hype, what’s real, and where it’s actually making an impact on the ground.

Vaibhav brings a rare combination of frontline experience and global perspective. With 11+ years in supply chain - spanning global sourcing for complex motor components to insulation materials - he’s seen firsthand how AI is shifting the way manufacturers plan, source, and operate.

In this guest piece, Vaibhav cuts through the noise. His message is clear: the future of manufacturing isn’t about replacing humans with algorithms. It’s about using AI to augment human decision-making - to help planners plan better, engineers focus on what matters, and buyers act faster.

If you’re in manufacturing or adjacent to it, this is a practical and well-argued perspective on how to work with AI - not fear it.

Here’s Vaibhav 👇