The survey of 150 manufacturing executives also found that firms are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence and automation tools, but that related human roles are some of the hardest to fill.
What happened
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Why it matters
AI and automation are among the biggest trends in manufacturing. Manufacturers are leveraging newer technologies as a way to bridge the persistent skill gap in the industry, with AI boosting engineering productivity and automation in manufacturing is set to more than double by 2030.
Meanwhile, according to a new survey by Xometry, manufacturers see the biggest impact of AI in manufacturability, costing, and quality control rather than on the shop floor. "AI is moving earlier into the manufacturing process, and the skills our industry needs are moving with it," Xometry’s CEO Sanjeev Singh Sahni said in a statement.
In the survey, 57% of manufacturers reported significant returns from AI investments, compared to 44% a year ago. Almost three-quarters said they are already applying AI to specific functions or have integrated it into their core operations.
This news brief is based on reporting published by Manufacturing Dive on 2026-10-07. The original report is linked below.
Manufacturing Dive
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