ChatGPT for manufacturing and food processing
Small and mid-sized manufacturers get most from ChatGPT in the office: quoting, purchasing, quality paperwork and analysing production data.
- Share of NZ employees
- 9.4%about 231,000 people, Feb 2025
- Highest local share
- 78%Eltham, Taranaki
- Highest region
- 16%Taranaki, 8,600 employees
Where we start
Small and mid-sized manufacturers get most from ChatGPT in the office: quoting, purchasing, quality paperwork and analysing production data.
Production data analysis
Upload downtime, scrap or order data and get pivot tables and charts in minutes, then check the working it shows.
Quote and purchasing emails
A custom GPT that knows your product range and terms drafts quotes and supplier emails in a consistent format.
Work instructions
Turn photos and notes from the floor into step-by-step work instructions for new starters.
Take care: Keep customer drawings and pricing out of personal accounts. Use a Business workspace with sharing set up properly.
Where the jobs are
Manufacturing and food processing accounts for 9.4% of paid employees in New Zealand. These are the towns and regions where its share is highest. Towns need at least 400 employees to be ranked.
Towns with the highest share of jobs in manufacturing
| Town | Chart | Share | NZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eltham | 78.0% | 9.4% | |
| Moerewa | 70.4% | 9.4% | |
| Mataura | 63.4% | 9.4% | |
| Pōkeno | 46.3% | 9.4% | |
| Kawerau | 44.2% | 9.4% | |
| Edgecumbe | 37.7% | 9.4% | |
| Hāwera | 37.6% | 9.4% | |
| Wairoa | 37.2% | 9.4% | |
| Waipū | 37.1% | 9.4% | |
| Te Aroha | 36.0% | 9.4% |
Share of paid employees at business locations in the town. The tick marks the national share.
Source: Stats NZ, Business Demography Statistics, February 2020 and 2025.
By region
| Region | Chart | Share | NZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taranaki | 16.1% | 9.4% | |
| Southland | 16.0% | 9.4% | |
| Marlborough | 15.7% | 9.4% | |
| Hawke's Bay | 12.7% | 9.4% | |
| West Coast | 12.3% | 9.4% | |
| Waikato | 11.5% | 9.4% | |
| Canterbury | 10.8% | 9.4% | |
| Tasman | 10.8% | 9.4% | |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 10.7% | 9.4% | |
| Nelson | 9.2% | 9.4% | |
| Bay of Plenty | 9.1% | 9.4% | |
| Auckland | 9.0% | 9.4% | |
| Northland | 8.5% | 9.4% | |
| Otago | 7.5% | 9.4% | |
| Gisborne | 7.3% | 9.4% | |
| Wellington | 4.4% | 9.4% |
Source: Stats NZ, Business Demography Statistics, February 2020 and 2025.
Courses
1Introductory
ChatGPT essentials workshop
A practical session for the whole team: prompting, files, data analysis and Projects, using tasks from your own business.
2Organisation
ChatGPT Business and Enterprise rollout
Set up ChatGPT properly for a team: workspace, sharing, policies, a custom GPT library and adoption that lasts past week two.
3Advanced
Custom GPTs, agents and the OpenAI API
For power users and developers: custom GPTs with actions, agent workflows, the OpenAI API and Codex.
Other industries
Questions
Is ChatGPT safe to use in manufacturing?
With the right plan and rules, yes for most tasks. Keep customer drawings and pricing out of personal accounts. Use a Business workspace with sharing set up properly.
Can training use our own manufacturing examples?
Yes. We ask for a few real, non-sensitive examples beforehand, or anonymised versions, and build the exercises around them.
Train your manufacturing team
- Send us a few linesHow many people, where you are, and the jobs that eat your week.
- We reply with a planA suggested session and format, plus what to bring: real quotes, emails and questions.
- Your team does the workAt your place or over video. They finish with ChatGPT doing real tasks, not demos.
- In person
- Remote
- Half-day workshop
- Full-day workshop
- Team rollout
Independent training by TheColab. Not affiliated with OpenAI.
Enquire
Tell us about your team. We reply by email with a suggested course and format.