AI CAM That Plans, Estimates & Programs CNC

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.

“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

Toolpath Increases Machinist Productivity.

We don’t replace skilled people — we remove the bottlenecks that slow them down.
If you’re quoting by hand, manually editing toolpaths, or burning time on tribal setups, Toolpath helps your team move faster.

The industry’s been talking about a skills gap for years.
But the real issue? We’re not making the most of the skill we already have.
That’s the productivity gap — and that’s what Toolpath is built to fix.

Now… full honesty:
Toolpath is a bit like a self-driving car that hasn’t figured out what to do when a plastic bag blows across the road.
It’s fast, it’s learning, and it’s already changing how modern shops operate — but it’s not perfect.

If you’re looking for polished and predictable, Toolpath might not be ready for you yet.
But if you want to be part of the future — and help shape it — we’d be honored to build it with you.