Transforming Manufacturing with AI: Paragon Films' Journey with Microsoft Copilot

Artificial Intelligence is no longer confined to the realms of futuristic science fiction—it’s here and transforming industries in ways few could have imagined even a decade ago. A crystal-clear example of this transformation is the strategy unfolding at Paragon Films, a leading plastics manufacturer, under the leadership of CIO Kenny Mullican. Recently spotlighted in the "AI Copilot Podcast," Mullican shared his ambitious roadmap for integrating Microsoft Copilot and other AI-driven solutions into his company’s workflows. Buckle up—this is a journey as exciting as it is innovative.

The Spotlight on Copilots: A Revolution in Accessibility​

Imagine copilots—not as sidekicks in a sci-fi movie—but as intelligent virtual assistants embedded in your favorite apps. Microsoft’s vision of AI copilots is steadily becoming a reality, revolutionizing the way humans interact with technology.
Mullican’s approach epitomizes this. Leveraging Microsoft’s robust ecosystem—including Office 365, Dynamics 365, Power BI, and the Power Platform—he’s setting the stage for his organization’s competitive edge. Notably, he emphasizes the ease with which everyday employees can now leverage the power of Generative AI (GenAI). Tools that once felt “locked behind a wall of technical expertise” are now open to everyone, whether you’re in accounting or supply chain management.
By integrating AI copilots, Paragon Films is exploring ways to rethink routine tasks, optimize processes, and unearth insights buried deep in mounds of data. The magic here? The tools don’t require you to be a data scientist. You talk to the copilot, and it works with natural language commands to turn mountains of data into actionable insights or automated workflows.
Let’s break this down further.

Real-World Use Cases: Proof of Value and Beyond​

Mullican is gearing up for a “proof of value” project, one that is poised to be the foundational blueprint for AI integration in the manufacturing sector. Here's the plan:

• Training Your Super Crew: Roughly 20 to 30 employees from various departments will receive training on how to harness the power of AI copilots. These aren’t just IT specialists; they’re workers from across the company’s operations, from account managers to manufacturing floor supervisors. The goal? To inject AI-enhanced functionality directly into their day-to-day workflows.
• Visualizing with Power BI: Mullican also highlighted a forward-thinking use for AI within Power BI, one of Microsoft’s flagship business analytics tools. Imagine being able to “talk to” your data—literally. Employees at Paragon Films will soon perform natural language queries to Power BI, receiving visually intuitive dashboards in real time. Think: "Give me a breakdown of product defect rates for the past quarter," spoken in plain language, yielding immediate, precise results.
• Custom copilots on the horizon: Beyond these quick wins, Mullican envisions creating tailor-made copilots that handle specific tasks, especially in manufacturing quality control. Imagine AI monitoring the assembly line, detecting anomalies, and recommending corrective actions—all in the blink of an eye.

What’s notable about Paragon’s approach isn’t just the technology but the strategic deployment plan. Instead of flashy, one-off experiments, Mullican is laying the groundwork for scalable adoption across the company. They’re treating the AI strategy like a marathon, not a sprint—and that patience is bound to pay off.

Data Readiness: The Unsung Hero of AI Success​

Mullican isn’t guarding some secret AI recipe. Instead, he openly admits that the cornerstone of successful AI deployment is nothing more glamorous than good data hygiene. If data were water, many companies are trying to run their systems on what amounts to a mud-filled stream. But at Paragon Films, laying the groundwork for their AI copilots has meant ensuring that their data is clean, well-organized, and easily accessible.
And data readiness isn’t just about orderly filing systems—it’s about recognizing trends and actionable patterns that may otherwise be hidden. Think of it as refining your data into a Michelin-starred ingredient, ready for the AI chef to work its magic.
Mullican credits events like October’s Community Summit NA and the upcoming March 2025 AI Copilot Summit for helping his team think critically about their data pathways. Through these events, he’s picked up actionable advice on building sustainable data pipelines that can accommodate future AI ambitions.
But how does this translate to real-world results? Simply put: without clean, structured data, copilots (or any AI solution) can only output mediocre results. Garbage in, garbage out.

Looking Ahead: Predictions for AI in 2025​

As we approach 2025, Mullican is optimistic that AI technologies will become even more nuanced, accessible, and integrated. Here’s how he sees the future shaping up:

• Integrated Copilot Products Across the Board: Microsoft, which continues to lead on the AI forefront, will likely develop even more seamless cross-app functionality, allowing users to jump effortlessly between Office apps, Dynamics 365, and other cloud tools.
• Conversational Interfaces Get Smarter: Voice-driven interfaces for copilots will evolve, making human-computer interaction feel as natural as calling out to a colleague. This could mean spy-movie levels of voice commands where you say, "Prepare a monthly sales report comparing 2023 to 2024," and voilà—minutes later, it’s in your inbox.
• Autonomous AI Agents emerge: Mullican also foresees that the future won’t just belong to copilots but dynamic AI agents that take the reins altogether. These agents won’t just suggest what you should do but will act autonomously on routine tasks. For example, they could monitor inventory levels, trigger supply orders, or even adjust marketing strategies—all without human intervention, based on preset contextual triggers.

With such advancements imminent, the workplace of tomorrow will look less like a cubicle farm and more like a cockpit where AI copilots are indispensable co-pilots managing tasks at digital hyperspeed.

Final Thoughts: Harnessing AI without Fear​

For businesses large and small, the prospect of diving headfirst into AI can feel intimidating. How do you avoid stumbling on costs? Are your data systems even ready for AI solutions? And let’s not forget—how do you ensure your employees are comfortable living shoulder-to-shoulder with futuristic coworkers of the digital variety?
Kenny Mullican provides a masterclass in turning these questions into opportunities. His approach is equal parts practical and visionary. By tying cutting-edge technologies like Microsoft Copilot to everyday business activities—such as data analytics, operations monitoring, and project management—he’s not just reshaping his own company but providing a test case for AI integration in the manufacturing industry at large.
For Windows Forum users thinking about their own AI journeys, the lessons from Paragon Films are clear: take your time, start with a robust data foundation, focus on practical use cases, and always be willing to adapt your strategy as technology evolves.
Now it’s your turn: What areas in your organization could benefit most from AI copilots? Are you preparing for the wave of autonomous AI agents? Join the discussion in the forum and share insights, or ask questions about how you can bring AI copilots to your workplace.

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Source: Acceleration Economy AI Copilot Podcast: CIO Kenny Mullican Details His Manufacturing Industry Copilot Strategy