Where Does AI Move the Needle for Manufacturers?

To better understand the manufacturing industry's approach to AI, Aptean worked with independent research firm Vanson Bourne to survey 300 executives across process and discrete operations for our 2026 Artificial Intelligence Research.

The findings show how manufacturers are putting AI to work today and where there's still value on the table to be claimed.

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Increased Efficiency Is the Starting Point, Not the Ceiling

Manufacturers already use AI to run leaner operations, from scheduling to shop floor efficiency. Our report pairs the survey findings and qualitative interviews with insight from Aptean's manufacturing specialists, revealing where bigger opportunities exist.

Inside, you'll find:

Why increased productivity is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of AI’s impact
Why manufacturers lag every other sector in industry-specific AI adoption
How one U.S. manufacturer is using AI to prevent costly design mistakes and speed up testing
What's holding European manufacturers back from deeper AI integration

Manufacturers are the least likely industry surveyed to adopt vertical AI (45%), yet those who do are more likely to report faster product delivery (46% vs. 39%) and stronger competitive positioning (35% vs. 29%).

Learn the "why" behind these differences and what you can do to optimize your business's AI results by downloading the report.

Unlocking AI’s Full Potential in Manufacturing front cover

Insights From Our Manufacturing Industry Insiders

Aptean's manufacturing specialists add real-world context to the survey findings, informed by conversations with customers on the shop floor.

"There is no such thing as effective non-industry-specific AI for manufacturing. If you want to use AI, you can't do anything sensible without heavy integration into your processes, your systems, your engines."

Jorg Kastrup, Product Director, Aptean

"Most manufacturers don't know what AI can do for them until they see it solve a problem they recognize. Show a plant manager an agent that catches a defect from a photo, and the response is always the same: 'We deal with that all the time—sign us up."

Dmitry Kirshner, Senior Solutions Architect, Aptean

"They're a 'show me' group. They want to see success before they dive in. They're cautious until it's proven that it's giving them the results they're looking for."

Jim Tuttle, Senior Solutions Consultant, Aptean

Car body in a factory with robot production

"There is no such thing as effective non-industry-specific AI for manufacturing. If you want to use AI, you can't do anything sensible without heavy integration into your processes, your systems, your engines."

Jorg Kastrup, Product Director, Aptean

Engineer a Better Approach to AI

Read the report to see how leading manufacturers are turning AI from a convenient tool into a real difference-maker on your factory floor.

Industrial Manufacturing AI Report