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“2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report Reveals Manufacturers Are Scaling AI, Strengthening Operational Capabilities, and Focusing on Tangible Business Outcomes”
MILWAUKEE, May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK), one of the world’s leading companies in industrial automation, informatization, and digital transformation, today released the findings of its 11th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report” (“2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report”). This global survey, covering over 1,500 manufacturers across 17 major manufacturing countries and regions, reveals a shift in industry focus: manufacturers are no longer debating whether to adopt digital technologies but are instead concentrating on driving technology implementation, achieving large-scale deployment, and translating these efforts into tangible business outcomes.
Rockwell Automation Global Survey Shows 90% of Manufacturers View Digital Transformation as Key to Business Growth
The report indicates that the manufacturing industry is at a critical inflection point, with many manufacturers moving from pilot experimentation to broader deployment of digital capabilities. Fewer companies remain in the pilot phase, while more report actively leveraging smart manufacturing technologies to support daily operations.
The survey found that 90% of manufacturers now consider digital transformation essential to maintaining competitiveness, signaling that it has become a fundamental operational necessity.
Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation, stated: “Across the industry, manufacturers are facing unprecedented complexity and operational pressures over the past decade. This year’s survey not only reveals the challenges the industry faces but also showcases how leading companies are responding—by elevating digital transformation to a core operational priority. Those achieving real results are effectively integrating technology, people, and processes to turn insights into better decisions, stronger operational performance, and greater business resilience.”
Key Global Findings from the “2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report” Include:
- Manufacturers Are Moving from Pilots to Large-Scale Adoption:
59% of manufacturers report actively using smart manufacturing technologies to support operations, while only 18% remain in the pilot phase, marking the gradual end of the pilot-dominated development phase of recent years. - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Becoming a Key Engine for Industrial Competitive Advantage:
Currently, one-third (34%) of operational processes are AI-enhanced, widely applied in areas such as quality control, cybersecurity, and process optimization. Respondents expect that by 2030, over half of operational processes will be AI-supported, with AI gradually becoming a core capability in manufacturing operations. - Operational Intelligence Has Become a Critical Factor in Business Competitiveness:
Despite the growing volume of data collected by companies, only 43% of data is currently utilized effectively. This indicates that the key to operational performance lies not in data acquisition capabilities but in the ability to execute and apply data. - Cybersecurity Has Become a Real Operational Challenge:
Nearly half of manufacturers (46%) have experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in the past year, reflecting the increasing cybersecurity risks as operational processes become more interconnected and automated. Secure, integrated IT/OT (Information Technology/Operational Technology) architectures are now a critical foundation for deploying AI and advanced automation capabilities.
The report also shows that manufacturers are focusing transformation investments on tangible business outcomes such as improving quality, reducing costs, lowering operational risks, and enhancing overall equipment effectiveness. Meanwhile, industrial technology spending still accounts for one-third of operational budgets, indicating that companies are pursuing long-term, application-driven investments rather than short-term experiments.
Based on over a decade of global survey data, the “2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report” focuses on key capabilities of modern industrial operations, covering core trends such as intelligence, business resilience, adaptability, and workforce transformation.
Click here to view the full 11th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report.”
Methodology
This report surveyed a total of 1,560 respondents from 17 major manufacturing countries and regions, with job levels ranging from management to executive. The survey was conducted jointly by Rockwell Automation and Sapio Research. Respondents came from multiple industries, including consumer packaged goods (CPG), food and beverage (F&B), automotive, semiconductor, energy, and life sciences. Company sizes were evenly distributed, with revenues ranging from $100 million to over $30 billion, providing a broad perspective across the manufacturing sector.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) is one of the world’s leading companies in industrial automation, informatization, and digital transformation. We harness the power of human imagination and technology to create more possibilities for humanity, making the world more productive and sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Rockwell had approximately 26,000 employees as of the end of fiscal year 2025, with operations in over 100 countries and regions. For more information on how Rockwell helps industrial enterprises turn the Connected Enterprise into reality, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.