The clear message coming from this report is that the manufacturers view technology as an advantage for improving quality, agility, and innovation and attracting the next generation of talent.
“Manufacturers expect to mitigate risk through technology, tighter processes, and people to build resiliency and drive future success,” according to Sachin Mathur, director of software and control, EMEA, Rockwell Automation. “We hope industry finds the report useful in benchmarking their organizations and as a catalyst for taking action to drive transformation that will deliver differentiated business outcomes in your industry.”
Additional key global findings include:
- Globally, twice as many respondents say they lack the technology to outpace the competition compared with last year’s surveying. Recent years have made a compelling business case for many newer technologies, as market conditions have demanded accelerated adoption, and this unprecedented pace of change is creating competitive pressure across the industry. In Europe, only 39% of respondents identified technology as an obstacle to outpacing the competition, compared with the global average of 43%.
- Sustainability and ESG are integral to manufacturing. More than 95% of global respondents noted some level of sustainability and/or ESG policy over the past two years, whether formal or informal. Regulations are applying pressure across the value chain for all companies to address sustainability and ESG in their operations. Europe lags behind the global average, with just 91% of organizations claiming to have some ESG policy.
- 50% more global manufacturers are using machine learning and artificial intelligence compared with last year. This number will continue to rise as manufacturers see the impact that accessible machine learning can have on improving their business outcomes.
- Overall, a third of global manufacturers are challenged by technology paralysis and the inability to decide between solutions. Technology is demonstrated throughout the report as being crucial to mitigating risk and delivering growth. So, manufacturers must overcome indecision by choosing a partner with relevant expertise and experience who can advise and guide them in implementing a fit-for-purpose solution.
- 97% of global participants reported plans to use smart manufacturing technology to enable and optimize more agile, resilient production processes, empowering the workforce to manage risk, drive sustainability, and accelerate transformation.
The full findings of the report can be found here.
