Rockwell Automation's new "State of Smart Manufacturing" report makes it clear that digital transformation is a necessity for manufacturers. Among the 1560 manufacturers surveyed, 90% agree companies must adopt digital solutions to remain competitive. The experimentation phase for smart manufacturing technologies is over; the industry is moving to implementation.
Manufacturers continue to face tough challenges, and digital transformation is emerging as the answer for many companies. They've moved past simple technology adoption and are working to digitally connect every aspect of their operations. These adjustments will help manufacturers to withstand periods of uncertainty and improve overall business strategy.
The study primarily included responses from executives and managers across a variety of industries, from automotive to energy to life sciences, to name a few. Other significant findings portray that the majority of manufacturers are utilizing advanced technologies in production, and only 18% are still in the pilot stage. One smart technology particularly prominent in the study was artificial intelligence (AI), which more than a third of manufacturing respondents reported using.
However, there are still some considerations when digitally integrating operations. One is data strategy. Despite the fact that manufacturers are collecting more data, many aren't aware of how to best utilize the data to optimize processes. Only about 43% of survey respondents reported having effective strategies in place for using this data. Additionally, the study covered cybersecurity incidents among manufacturers, estimating that 46% of industrial companies dealt with these in the past year. Cyberattacks are an unfortunate side effect of digitally connected operations, and a pressing reason why manufacturing companies must implement cybersecurity measures as part of their digital transformations.
Read the full "State of Smart Manufacturing" report.