FEATURE Industrial AI
AI IS A SKILLS ACCELERATOR AI IS A SKILLS ACCELERATOR
blends hands-on experience with real-time guidance.
AI can’t replace UK manufacturing workers, but it can make them more employable, says Stuart Adams, UK Managing Director at global CAD/CAM leader Mastercam
F
rom the Chancellor’s push for productivity gains to the Advanced Manufacturing Plan’s £4.5 billion pledge[1], UK
policymakers are united on one goal – boosting British industry. But the real challenge lies in implementation. How do you scale manufacturing output without enough skilled people to power the machines? How do you prepare a workforce for the age of AI, when many manufacturers are still battling basic recruitment gaps? There’s been no shortage of headlines warning that automation will replace jobs. But the reality on the ground, especially in engineering and CNC The future of UK manufacturing isn’t
about replacing people with AI. It’s about using AI to supercharge the people we already have.
Beyond the hype It is now more important than ever for software providers to engage more meaningfully with engineers, colleges, and machine shops across the UK. This will help to establish a better understanding of what actually moves intuitive, that make sense in context, and that help teams hit deadlines without compromising quality. That’s exactly why there is a shift
toward assistive AI that lives inside the CAM environment and helps programmers write faster, cleaner, more accurate toolpaths. It doesn’t rewrite
16 April 2026 | Automation
your entire job. It suggests the next logical step. It doesn’t guess. It learns from decades of machining best practice. It’s like pairing your apprentice with a 30-year veteran who never sleeps. That’s the thinking behind Mastercam Copilot, an AI assistant built directly into the CAM programming environment. It uses voice commands and natural language to help programmers set feeds and speeds, create machine groups, and navigate the software, meeting users where they are, rather than asking them to learn a new system. The result? Junior programmers can become save time on repetitive processes and focus on what they do best. And manufacturers get more jobs done, with fewer mistakes, in less time. The skills gap isn’t new, but it’s becoming
harder to work around, with reports suggesting that the UK is 170,000 workers same time, entry into vocational training visibility into what a modern machining career looks like. And even when talent does come through the door, upskilling takes time. Learning to programme toolpaths safely, production demands doesn’t happen overnight. It takes months, often years, to get from theory to productivity. That’s where assistive AI can have real impact. One of the biggest challenges facing UK manufacturers is how to deliver continuous limited by availability, funding, and regional disparities. What’s needed is a system that
That’s what AI is making possible. By embedding help directly into the tools people use every day, we can shorten learning curves, career professionals. training teams and simulation labs, smaller manufacturers don’t have that luxury. They need tools that empower workers to learn while tight production schedules, limited budgets, and lean teams. good example of this in practice. It automates feature recognition, generates work plans giving small-to-medium shops the kind of previously only accessible to larger operations with dedicated engineering teams. especially in sectors like aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, where precision is everything and tolerances are non-negotiable. This is particularly relevant as the UK continues its push for regional re- industrialisation. If we’re serious about levelling up areas like the Midlands and North and people, to make it happen.
Human and machine in harmony AI in manufacturing isn’t just about replace instinct, experience, or craftsmanship – it enhances them.
The most powerful machines in the world
are still controlled by people. And when those people are equipped with AI that understands right help at the right time, the result is transformative.
The UK must stop asking whether AI will steal jobs and start asking how we can use it to [1] Advanced manufacturing plan (HTML version) -
GOV.UK
Mastercam
www.mastercam.com
automationmagazine.co.uk
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