Manufacturing Sector Embraces AI Rapidly: Report by Rockwell Automation in 2025 Reveals Industry Metamorphosis
Smart Manufacturing's AI Boom Exposed
The latest report from automation titan, Rockwell Automation, flings open the doors on the radical surge of AI investments within the manufacturing realm. titles the 10th iteration of their State of Smart Manufacturing Report, revealing a whopping 95% of manufacturers investing in AI and ML technology in the coming five years.
Worldwide Snapshot of Digital Evolution
Conducted in March 2025, this study surveyed over 1,500 manufacturers across 17 industrial heavyweights. The research delivers a comprehensive global view of how digital transformation, especially AI, is redesigning operations in energy-consuming, supply chain-focused sectors.
AI Investment Skyrockets
The study's keystone finding? An unprecedented rise in AI adoption, with 81% of respondents citing internal efficiency and external competitiveness as primary drivers for this shift. AI, cloud/SaaS, cybersecurity, and quality management sit atop the list of investment areas, and there's been a staggering 12% year-over-year increase in companies investing in next-gen AI like generative and causal AI—a clear sign that experimentation is evolving into real-world implementation.
Cybersecurity Climbs the Rankings
Historically underestimated, cybersecurity has emerged as a top strategic concern for manufacturers. Nowadays, it represents the second-largest external risk, acknowledging the ascending complexity and interconnectedness of modern industrial systems. On this cybersecurity front, 49% of manufacturers expect AI to prop up their defenses by 2025—marking an empowering turning point as manufacturers begin treating cybersecurity as an integral piece of operational resilience, especially in cloud-centric environments.
AI-Guided Quality Control
For the second consecutive year, quality control topped the AI applications chart for manufacturing, with half of the surveyed businesses eyeing AI/ML to bolster product quality. Rockwell Automation has already made its impact with VisionAI, an innovative quality inspection solution merging conventional machine vision with AI. This power tool identifies subtle defects missed by rule-based systems, enabling real-time, highly accurate inspection at breakneck production speeds. It's a game-changer for high-tech industries like automotive, electronics, and food & beverage.
Digital Pressures and Human Capital Strategy
Digital transformation transcends gear upgrades—it's also about revising workforce dynamics. 81% of manufacturers name internal efficiency and external competition as leading motivators for this evolution. With 48% reassessing workforce roles, many manufacturers view AI less as a labor replacement and more as an enhancer—a crucial strategy in tackling the global labor war. It's essential to emphasize workforce development through upskilling and reskilling, as Rockwell Automation consistently advocates.
Human-Machine Synergy: The Gamechanger
Rockwell Automation remains a champion of synergizing human expertise with cutting-edge technology, with CEO Blake Moret emphasizing the importance of human-AI collaboration in navigating industry disruptions:
"Today's technology advancements create unparalleled opportunities for people and technology to bring about a new era. As our annual report demonstrates, manufacturers worldwide are using smart manufacturing to sail through chaos and capitalize on new chances for speed and adaptability. At Rockwell, we believe that innovation and resilience are joined at the hip. With the right technology and the right people, we can simplify complexity and take charge amid changing currents.”
For a deeper dive into the report, head to the official Rockwell Automation website.
AI-Upheaval in Business & Manufacturing
- The 10th edition of Rockwell Automation's State of Smart Manufacturing Report reveals that 95% of manufacturers plan to invest in AI and ML technology over the next five years.
- Conducted across 17 industrial heavyweights, the study surveyed over 1,500 manufacturers globally, providing a comprehensive view of digital transformation in energy-consuming and supply chain-focused sectors.
- AI, cloud/SaaS, cybersecurity, and quality management are the top investment areas, with a 12% year-over-year increase in companies investing in next-gen AI like generative and causal AI.
- Cybersecurity has become a top strategic concern for manufacturers, representing the second-largest external risk due to the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of modern industrial systems.
- By 2025, 49% of manufacturers expect AI to enhance their cybersecurity defenses, signaling a shift in treating cybersecurity as an integral piece of operational resilience.
- Quality control topped the AI applications chart for manufacturing, with half of the surveyed businesses aiming to use AI/ML to boost product quality, a trend evident in various high-tech industries such as automotive, electronics, and food & beverage.
- Rockwell Automation advocates for workforce development through upskilling and reskilling, emphasizing the importance of human-AI collaboration in navigating industry disruptions while sailing through chaos and capitalizing on new opportunities for speed and adaptability.
