Manufacturing CEOs are investing significantly in artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow automation tools. Fifty-seven percent of U.S. CEOs investing in these new technologies to improve efficiency and strengthen their supply chains, according to Xometry’s latest quarterly “American Manufacturing Resilience” poll with Forbes and international polling firm John Zogby Strategies
In addition to AI, 28% of manufacturing CEOs are investing in robotics, and 27% are focusing on job training and upskilling. Among those who have implemented AI, 67% have already seen a significant return on investment, while 31% expect a strong ROI in the future.
Manufacturing CEOs have taken significant proactive measures to prepare for the AI boom, deploying AI in various measures in their organizations, with 76% of it being used in supply chain management, followed by procurement (71%), quality control (47%), and automation (37%).
American Manufacturing Resilience Poll
Highlights of the “American Manufacturing Resilience” poll include:
Supply Chain Disruptions and the Economy
When it comes to supply-chain concerns, CEOs are most concerned about a major cybersecurity attack (24%), followed by a large-scale or global war (20%), banking instability (16%), labor strife (14%), terrorist attack (11%), and pandemic (6%). In the labor domain, the manufacturing industry faces challenges in attracting highly skilled talent as it becomes more high-tech. Over 56% of manufacturing CEOs struggle to find qualified, highly skilled employees.
In the broader economic context, despite concerns about the possibility of a recession, manufacturing CEOs remain optimistic. Furthermore, 65% express optimism about the future. Finally, CEOs remain evenly split on whether Democratic or Republican policies are more beneficial for the industry, reflecting political diversity among manufacturing leaders.
The Future of AI
AI is here to stay, and executives welcome the opportunities. “Our latest quarterly survey shows us that AI and reshoring go hand-in-hand,” said Randy Altschuler, Xometry CEO. “As reshoring continues to accelerate, CEOs are using AI to create locally resilient supply chains, simplify procurement and streamline their operations.”
Download American Manufacturing Resilience – Q4 CEO Sentiment Survey.
