Ukrainian еngineer Andrii Nikulin leads industrial transformation with AI in Europe and the USA

Global Recognition for a Visionary Engineer

In 2024, Andrii Nikulin was officially inducted into two of the world’s most prestigious international engineering societies: the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the UK and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). This marks an exceptional recognition of his high professional caliber and significant achievements.

Achieving IET Member (MIET) status confirms his adherence to global standards in mechanical engineering and manufacturing automation. The IET, one of Europe’s most influential engineering organizations, considers him a “professional home for life,” underscoring his contribution to developing intelligent production management systems, particularly in the food industry. Furthermore, Andrii is a Senior Member of IEEE, the world’s largest professional engineering community. This esteemed status is granted only to individuals with at least 10 years of experience who’ve demonstrated outstanding accomplishments. This recognition highlights his high authority in industrial automation, machine learning, and intelligent manufacturing, as well as his active role in shaping new engineering standards.

The Path of Innovation: From Ukraine to the World Stage

Andrii Nikulin’s story is the story of an engineer who was never satisfied with just technical drawings. His journey began in Ukraine, where he became a co-founder and chief engineer of an engineering company specializing in auditing and modernizing technical processes in mechanical engineering. Thanks to the efforts of him and his team, the company was included in the Regional Register of Reliable and Investment-Attractive Enterprises and the National Register of Best Suppliers of Goods and Services of Ukraine in 2018. He also conducted successful audits and optimization of production processes for a number of industrial companies in Ukraine and Poland, helping them achieve significant improvements in efficiency and equipment reliability.

Then his path led him to the Czech Republic, to LE&CO, one of Central Europe’s most powerful food enterprises. As chief engineer, he played a key role in restructuring production lines and implementing automated production control systems (SCADA systems) for real-time process monitoring and control, as well as predictive maintenance. His approach was based not only on practical experience but also on scientific research in the field of machine learning, which was subsequently published in international journals and laid the foundation for new industry standards. The tangible results were impressive: a 50% increase in productivity and an 80% reduction in breakdowns due to equipment failures.

However, a real challenge awaited him in the USA. Despite moving from a country experiencing war, Andrii not only adapted but also founded his own company from scratch. Within its first year, his company SMART-MECHTECH achieved impressive results. In a country known for high production standards but also significant losses due to downtime, Andrii founded SMART-MECHTECH, where he holds the position of chief engineer-technologist and head of the company. The company has already demonstrated tangible business results in its first year of operation and has high potential for scaling. Its engineering approach is based not only on technology integration but also on adaptation to various markets and industries. SMART-MECHTECH plans to enter the international level, implementing its own developments in the field of digital control, energy optimization, and intelligent monitoring at enterprises in the USA, Europe, and other regions. Importantly, the company does not sell equipment; it creates turnkey engineering solutions. His key approach was not just to “implement technology,” but to “explain to business exactly how it will affect profit.”

Transforming Industries with AI-Based Solutions

Andrii’s specialization lies in the implementation of AI-based control systems, predictive maintenance technologies, and intelligent manufacturing, particularly in the food, packaging, pharmaceutical, and machine-building industries. He holds a Master’s degree in Food Technology Engineering.

His client portfolio ranges from small food production lines to medium-sized factories in logistics, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, and packaging. In each case, Andrii acts as a new-generation engineering consultant: conducting a deep audit of the production environment, identifying critical loss points, and developing digital process models based on MES (Manufacturing Execution System – a real-time production process management system) or AI solutions (i.e., artificial intelligence solutions that help analyze data, predict malfunctions, and optimize equipment operation). These solutions are based on his own research and publications. For example, his methods for managing flows in the food industry are based on hybrid machine learning models, which he presented in a number of scientific papers from 2023 to 2025. During implementation, he not only optimizes the system but also adapts personnel to new intelligent work formats. This is not just automation; it is a systemic transformation of the enterprise’s engineering culture.

One notable case involved an audit conducted by Andrii’s team at a manufacturing facility in Florida, operating in the transportation equipment and mechanics sector. Technical analysis and optimization of the engineering infrastructure significantly reduced the risks of breakdowns and line stoppages. Another compelling example is a plant in Uzhhorod, Kyiv, and Odesa, Ukraine, specializing in packaging equipment production. Despite the challenging conditions in the country, these enterprises have continued to operate stably for almost five years, avoiding emergency shutdowns. This is no coincidence; it’s a system. The production line predicts component wear in advance, optimizes energy consumption based on load, and most importantly – “learns” from its own experience. What seemed futuristic ten years ago is now a reality, and Andrii Nikulin is at the center of this transformation.