Rockwell Automation’s latest global survey suggests that digital transformation has moved from ambition to necessity for manufacturers, with 90% now saying it is essential simply to stay competitive.
The company’s 2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report, based on responses from more than 1,500 manufacturers across 17 countries, points to an industry that is past the experimental stage. Rockwell said 59% of organisations are already using smart manufacturing technologies in...
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day-to-day operations, while just 18% remain in pilot programmes, a sign that many firms are shifting from testing ideas to scaling them.
Blake Moret, Rockwell Automation’s chairman and chief executive, said manufacturers were dealing with unprecedented levels of complexity and pressure. In a statement, he said the more successful firms were those that tied together technology, people and processes to improve decision-making, performance and resilience.
Artificial intelligence is becoming more embedded in factory operations. Rockwell said 34% of manufacturers are already using AI to support functions including quality control, cybersecurity and process optimisation, and expect that by 2030 more than half of operations will be AI-supported.
The report also highlights a familiar problem: data abundance is not the same as data value. Although manufacturers are collecting larger amounts of information, Rockwell said only 43% is being used effectively, suggesting that execution remains a bigger barrier than access to information.
Cyber risk is another growing concern. The company said 46% of respondents reported at least one cyber incident over the past year, underscoring the security challenges that come with increasingly connected and autonomous production environments.
Rather than chasing technology for its own sake, manufacturers appear to be directing spending towards clearer business outcomes, including higher quality, lower costs, reduced operational risk and better overall equipment effectiveness. Rockwell said about a third of operating budgets is still being committed to industrial technology, indicating that investment remains substantial and focused on practical gains.
Source: Noah Wire Services
