The Advanced Manufacturing Report, conducted by Forrester Consulting and commissioned by Hexagon, unveiled that nearly 40% of manufacturers risk lagging behind competitors due to their sluggish adoption of automation and data-driven productivity measures. 

These findings underscore a pressing need for manufacturers to prioritise data quality, workforce collaboration, and automation to stay competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.

The report also found that Data-related challenges contribute to 97% of manufacturers experiencing difficulties in collaboration and productivity. This impediment not only hampers innovation but also delays responses to customer needs. A staggering 71% of business leaders express concerns about the lack of synergy between design and manufacturing teams.

“It’s ironic that manufacturing invented the automation and agile practices that are driving business transformation in other industries and is now struggling to transform – but that’s because achieving digitalisation throughout manufacturing value chains is a very real, complex, and human challenge,” said Josh Weiss, president of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division.

The report also found that only 2% of manufacturers claim to be problem-free with their data practices, highlighting a widespread issue across the industry. The report identifies 37% of manufacturers as ‘laggards,’ falling behind in automation adoption, compared to the 25% considered ‘leaders’ in the market.

Leaders outpace laggards in workforce productivity, innovation, and talent management, with 58% reporting increased staff productivity compared to 35% of laggards.

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Manufacturers globally are turning to advanced automation technologies to enhance productivity, says the report. Interestingly, 58% of Asian companies plan to invest in AI-powered automation, highlighting regional disparities in technology adoption and investment strategies.

The research, conducted by Forrester Consulting and commissioned by Hexagon, offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing industry. It underscores the urgency for manufacturers to embrace digital transformation to remain competitive in an evolving landscape.

“Those that empower their organisation to use data right now can drive more efficient value creation and get products to market faster with the agility to adapt to market conditions,” concluded Weiss.