The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for a paradigm shift in how artificial intelligence (AI) is perceived in the manufacturing sector, urging stakeholders to view the technology as a catalyst for growth and innovation rather than a threat to job creation.

Chairman of MAN’s Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee, Kofo Akinkugbe, while speaking at the 9th Edition of association’s presidential media luncheon and award in Lagos on Wednesday, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in enhancing operational efficiency and competitiveness across the industry.

“AI is not a threat to job creation. Instead, it is a benefit in terms of helping our processes, helping our machine learning, and helping us to plan better,” Akinkugbe stated.

She further emphasized that embracing AI would empower manufacturers to improve overall equipment effectiveness and ensure higher productivity on the factory floor. “It helps us to cut out unnecessary critical processes. So, AI is a tool that we must adopt, and it is here to stay,” she added.

Akinkugbe also stressed the importance of capacity building, encouraging manufacturers to invest in training their workforce to adapt to the integration of AI into production processes. “Manufacturers would adopt it, ensure that they are trained, and use AI to better improve the processes on the manufacturing floor,” she explained.

She underscored the long-term benefits of AI, noting that it has the potential to create opportunities for up skilling workers while enabling companies to align with global trends. “As the people get trained in AI, it helps those within the manufacturing sector to be a lot more skilled, a lot more strategic, and they can plan better,” she said.

Based on all these the Stakeholders’ were advised to see AI as a game changer and not as a threat to the sector.