- Manufacturing CIOs face challenges in adopting AI and automation, hindering innovation and technology adoption.
- The report emphasizes the importance of data management and collaboration for enhancing product quality and reducing time-to-market in the manufacturing industry.
- Concerns persist about the lack of synergy between design and manufacturing teams, with ineffective data sharing and quality issues identified as critical pain points.
Manufacturing CIOs are facing challenges in adopting AI and automation, hindering innovation and technology adoption. The report highlights the importance of data management and collaboration for enhancing product quality and reducing time-to-market in the manufacturing industry.
What to know: Manufacturing CIOs are facing challenges in adopting AI and automation, as highlighted in a recent report by Forrester Consulting and Hexagon. The report underscores that unresolved data issues are hindering innovation and the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies for 98% of manufacturing CIOs. These challenges impact collaboration, employee productivity, and the ability to respond promptly to customer needs, ultimately affecting time to market and overall productivity.
Deeper details: The report emphasizes the importance of better collaboration in enhancing product quality, reducing time to market, and minimizing material waste and emissions in the manufacturing industry. However, concerns about the lack of synergy between design and manufacturing teams persist, with 71% of business leaders expressing worries. Ineffective sharing of data and insights between teams, along with data availability and quality issues, are identified as critical pain points impeding progress.
The backstory: The study reveals a significant divide between manufacturing companies categorized as automation laggards and leaders. While 37% are falling behind in automation efforts, 25% are considered leaders who have automated at least two phases of their manufacturing processes. Asian manufacturers show more confidence in applying data, with 58% planning to invest in AI-powered automation in the next three years, surpassing counterparts in North America and EMEA. CIOs stress the importance of getting data practices in order to avoid being left behind by competitors.
Looking ahead: Josh Weiss, President of Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division, acknowledges the challenges faced by the manufacturing industry in achieving digitalization throughout their value chains. He highlights the need for organisations to empower themselves to utilize data effectively to drive efficient value creation, accelerate product launches, and adapt to market conditions. The report underscores the urgency for manufacturing companies to address data challenges to stay competitive in the evolving landscape of advanced technologies and automation.
