The Rhenish lignite mining area has been developing expertise in textile technology for over 900 years. The innovative textile industry and its supply chain (e.g. metal and electrical industries) have a high demand for skilled workers and present significant economic potential. Artificial intelligence (AI) assists businesses in remaining competitive globally, safeguarding jobs and prosperity. Particularly crucial are concrete qualification and further education initiatives, such as those provided by learning factories (LF). This has led to the development of a competence center for shaping the future of work in the Rhenish coal region using AI. The WIRKsam project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), supports companies in navigating the changes associated with the introduction and use of AI. This support is facilitated by enablers within the companies. The Innovation & Learning Center Aachen focuses on three key areas: securing and transferring knowledge with AI-supported competence and skill development in metal profile forming, planning and flexibilisation processes with AI-based decision support in shop floor management, and securing and enhancing quality through Human-Robot-Collaboration (HRC) for mastering complex motor skills in fiber composite manufacturing. A participatory model is being developed for the socio-technical implementation of AI applications within the project’s industrial sub-projects.