en.Wedoany.com Reported - The 11th annual "State of Smart Manufacturing Report" released by Rockwell Automation shows that the manufacturing industry has moved from the digital experimentation phase to enterprise-level execution, with nearly 90% of surveyed leaders believing digital transformation is essential to maintaining competitiveness. The industry is transforming isolated technology pilots into integrated capabilities covering full operations.
This report has tracked for 11 consecutive years how manufacturers approach automation, data, digital transformation, and operational performance. In a discussion with Keith Larson, Content Director of the Engineering Design and Automation Group at EndeavorB2B, Andy Stump, Director of Technology Enablement at Rockwell Automation, pointed out that digital transformation has now become the foundation of manufacturing operations. It is no longer a pilot project or a potential option but a part of business priorities. Organizations are moving beyond single technology deployments, focusing on end-to-end system connectivity, embedding intelligence into workflows, and unifying teams around outcomes such as quality, cost, and risk.
The report indicates that manufacturers face multiple pressures including labor shortages, cybersecurity risks, rising energy costs, inflation, economic instability, raw material fluctuations, and supply chain issues. These challenges no longer occur in isolation but are interconnected. Nearly half of manufacturers reported cybersecurity incidents in the past year, highlighting that cybersecurity has become a core part of operations. As the connection between IT and OT environments expands, the exposure surface continues to grow. New regulations and cyber resilience requirements are driving organizations to invest in integrated solutions and visualization capabilities to make better decisions.
In terms of technology investment, artificial intelligence and machine learning lead in impact, while core automation, robotics, and digital twins also receive significant investment. Nearly 30% of operational budgets are now dedicated to industrial technology. Stump stated that organizations are no longer focusing on single tools but are combining capabilities to support end-to-end processes and improve quality, reduce costs, and manage risks. The focus of digital transformation has shifted from "whether to adopt digital technology" to "how to integrate capabilities into core operations and deliver consistent results."
Stump believes that the biggest indicator of the industry moving beyond the experimentation phase is the increase in enterprise-level applications and the decrease in pilot projects. Manufacturers are conducting large-scale deployments and can repeatedly produce measurable results. Technology itself no longer constitutes a differentiating factor; the difference lies in how organizations effectively implement, connect systems, engage their workforce, and apply capabilities to improve performance. This evolution from isolated implementation to broad, consistent execution defines the characteristics of the next phase of smart manufacturing.
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