Metalinked CEO shares AI playbook for small manufacturers on inFlow podcast

Rehaan Bicha, co-founder and CEO of Metalinked, appeared on inFlow Inventory’s Secret Life of Inventory podcast in Episode 27 to argue that small manufacturers should solve one specific operational problem before chasing the latest AI tool. The conversation focused on practical steps for automation, data integration, and vendor due diligence as manufacturers look to use AI without adding risk.

Why it matters: - Small and midsize manufacturers are under pressure to use AI without wasting time, money, or attention on tools that do not solve a real operational problem. - The episode frames AI as a workflow and data problem first, not a software-shopping problem. - Metalinked’s pitch is built around helping manufacturers automate quoting, sourcing, procurement, and bill of materials risk detection.

What happened: - inFlow Inventory released Episode 27 of Secret Life of Inventory this week: “The AI Playbook: How to Get Started with AI in Operations.” - The episode features Rehaan Bicha, co-founder and CEO of Metalinked, in a conversation with hosts Jared Plumb and Melinda Tse. - Bicha told listeners to start with one specific business problem instead of the latest AI tool. - The podcast episode is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major platforms.

The details: - Bicha said manufacturers should rank the problems on their plate, connect scattered data into one pipeline, and test AI on one part of the business before expanding. - Metalinked has worked with more than 300 companies. - Bicha said smaller manufacturers can move faster because “everyone’s usually in one room.” - He cited a Los Angeles manufacturer with about $4 million tied up in inventory that found about $600,000 in savings after connecting data and capturing team knowledge to reuse parts already on hand. - Bicha separated AI use into two buckets: finding opportunities such as alternate suppliers or excess inventory, and making tedious tasks like quoting and document creation easier. - Bicha said high-stakes financial decisions should remain under human control. - Bicha said vibe coding can be useful, but only with the right infrastructure. - He described the approach as a double-edged sword because the interface is easy to build, while security, hidden infrastructure costs, and maintenance remain risks. - Bicha said a former client that built its own tool was later hacked. - Bicha advised businesses to ask AI vendors where data goes and how it is protected. - He said buyers should ask whether a vendor is SOC 2 compliant, whether it meets FedRAMP requirements for U.S. government work, and whether the solution can run on the company’s own premises.

Between the lines: - The episode pushes a conservative AI adoption model: start narrow, prove value fast, then scale. - The emphasis on data pipelines and vendor controls suggests manufacturers are still worried about security and implementation risk, not just productivity gains. - The inventory savings example gives the episode a concrete ROI story, which is likely to resonate with operators facing tight margins.

What's next: - New episodes of Secret Life of Inventory are released on the first Tuesday of every month. - inFlow says operators and industry experts can apply to be a guest at secretlifeofinventory.com. - Metalinked’s Astra platform continues to target operations teams with monitoring, verification, and next-step recommendations for suppliers and markets.

The bottom line: - For small manufacturers, the AI advantage may come from disciplined problem selection and better data flow, not from adopting the flashiest tool first.