AI for the Rest of Us: Real-World Tools for Busy Manufacturers

Are you wearing more hats than your job title suggests?
If you’re juggling HR, Safety, Quality, Training—or all of the above—this Lunch & Learn Workshop is for you.

In AI for the Rest of Us: Real-World Tools for Busy Manufacturers, you’ll learn how small and mid-sized manufacturing teams are using artificial intelligence to save time, reduce stress and streamline the daily grind. No coding, no big budgets—just practical, ready-to-use tools that make your work easier and your operation stronger.
 
Dec. 5, 2025, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Virtual Webinar
Cost: FREE

Questions: Contact Lori Benn, lbenn@ncsu.edu

What You Will Learn:

This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools to build a robust succession planning strategy.
 
You’ll gain practical insights into:

Whether you’re an HR/Safety Manager, Quality/CI Leader, or multitasking plant administrator, this session will show you how to start small, build confidence and use AI to get more done—with less stress.

You don’t need to be a tech expert to work smarter. You just need to start!

Presenter

Adrianne Kroll
Assistant Director of Quality, NC State University Industry Extension Services
Email: adrianne_kroll@ncsu.edu | Phone: 757.277.4303

Adrianne Kroll is the Assistant Director of Quality at NC State Industry Extension Services (IES), where she brings a deep-rooted passion for operational excellence, strategic systems thinking, and transformative innovation in the manufacturing sector. With a diverse career that began in the defense industry, Adrianne supported the design and construction of Navy nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines as a systems engineer, and later served as an analyst for the United States Joint Forces Command.

Over the years, she has led cross-functional teams—from shop floor personnel to executive leadership—in streamlining processes, eliminating waste, and enhancing performance across processes including engineering, IT, supply chain, and customer support. Her expertise spans systems and industrial engineering, quality management systems, risk and requirements management, configuration and change control, and business process improvement.

Adrianne is now expanding her focus to guide clients in exploring and adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools in manufacturing. She is helping organizations understand where AI can unlock value while aligning these technologies with existing management systems and continuous improvement frameworks. Her goal is to make AI adoption approachable, practical, and results-driven for manufacturers at every stage of digital maturity.

She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology and an M.S. in Systems Engineering. In addition to her strong foundation in quality systems, Adrianne brings a collaborative, data-informed approach to process mapping, project management, and emerging technology integration.