Moore on Manufacturing: Automation, AI & the Modern Manufacturing CFO
Originally published on August 3, 2026
Today’s manufacturing CFO is expected to do far more than report financial results. They’re helping lead strategy, improve operations and guide long-term growth using automation, AI and real-time data.
In this episode of Moore on Manufacturing, Mike Sibley and Kevin Golden discuss how the CFO role has evolved from reporting historical, GAAP-based financials to driving forecasting, risk management, capital allocation and operational decision-making. They explain how manufacturers can overcome disconnected data, labor shortages, compressed margins, supply chain volatility and tariffs by connecting information into dashboards and forecasting models that give leadership a consistent view of business performance.
The conversation also explores the practical differences between automation and AI, why documented processes remain essential, and how manufacturers can improve close times, identify operational bottlenecks and build stronger decision-making systems that create long-term competitive advantages.
Moore on the Topic
Check out some of our other resources addressing this subject!
- Before AI: Practical Automation for Manufacturers
- Manufacturing Dashboards: Turning Data into Real-Time Decisions
- Move Faster with Decision Intelligence
- Where Small Manufacturers Should Start with Data and Automation
- From Spreadsheet Chaos to Strategic Clarity: Why Centralized Data Wins
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