“Before Toolpath, my biggest bottlenecks were quoting and programming. After adopting Toolpath, my biggest bottleneck is spindle time.”

James Dryer, Accurate Dial and Nameplat

The Skills Gap Is a Myth.

The Productivity Gap Is the Real Threat.

In 1933, there were 7,000 commercial pilots in the U.S., but not enough flying jobs to match. Average pay was about $3,300 per year, which translates to roughly $77,200 today. Autopilot technology arrived and changed the game. Pilots were not replaced; instead, they became more effective and essential. Fast forward to now—there are over 400,000 commercial pilots, still not enough to meet demand, and the average salary is $211,790.

When automation is done right, it multiplies the value of skilled professionals rather than replacing them. The same transformation is happening in manufacturing.

Most machinists have the skill, but they are overwhelmed by manual quoting, constant toolpath tweaks, and repetitive setups. This is the real productivity gap. Toolpath takes care of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks so experienced machinists can focus on high-impact work: optimizing workflows, running multiple machines, improving part quality, and staying ahead in a competitive market.

Much like pilots, skilled machinists are not being replaced. They are becoming more important and more valuable than ever.

First Generation HAM Software.

From Computer Aided Manufacturing to Human Aided Manufacturing.

For decades, CAD and CAM have been computer aided. The human makes the decisions, and the software runs the math.

Toolpath flips the model.

When you upload a part, Toolpath begins immediately. It builds an operation plan, checks your tool library, and estimates cost. Then you step in to guide and refine. The computer takes the first step. The human gives direction.

This is human aided manufacturing.

Toolpath is built on proven technology from Autodesk and ModuleWorks, and backed by Kennametal. That means it starts smart, and it keeps getting smarter — with the trust of the industry behind it.

“If I can take the dull, dirty, and dangerous off my team’s plate and let automation handle it, I free them up to use their superpowers on the hard stuff.”

Mike Payne, Hill Manufacturing

The New Industrial Revolution

The last time technology reshaped the labor market, it moved value from the shop floor to the front office. Physical work gave way to mental work. Engineers replaced machinists at the top of the pay scale.

But now AI is shifting that balance again. This revolution is not about going backward — it is about automating mental repetition the same way the last one automated physical labor. And as that happens, the most valuable people will be the ones with judgment and real world understanding.

Not the person who can format a drawing. The person who knows how a part holds together in the vise. The one who sees a burr before the machine stops cutting.

These professionals will not be replaced. They will be multiplied. Toolpath is here to give them leverage.

“The last industrial revolution automated muscle power. This one is automating brain power. As this shift happens, it is the people who understand how things actually go together,  the ones with real world context, who will become the most valuable. Toolpath exists to serve those people.”

Al Whatmough, Toolpath CEO