Input Stories

Eight major trends are influencing the industry this year, and we’ve got the scoop on the biggest.

The trend: In 2026, the industry will be “shifting decisively toward operations that can sense, respond and optimize with minimal human intervention,” according to the NAM’s “Manufacturing Trends 2026” e-book.

• “The shift toward autonomous and adaptive manufacturing will define the next decade of industrial leadership. Companies that connect modular design, predictive systems and Responsible AI will gain a lasting performance edge,” predicted PwC’s Dan O’Neill and Ryan Hawk.
• Systems that once made recommendations now adjust equipment automatically, and manufacturing facilities are becoming more connected, with a network of sensors, analytics engines and automated controls working as single ecosystems.

Why it’s important: These developments will improve factory floor efficiency, reducing waste and shortening throughput times.

• “Manufacturers report that the greatest gains come from linking autonomous functions across multiple plants, enabling shared learning and coordinated optimization.”

Workforce effect: Operators are now focusing “more on managing exceptions and validating system decisions rather than performing manual interventions. Engineering teams spend more time refining algorithms, aligning workflows and validating data quality.”

Advice for manufacturers: Manufacturers should look into artificial intelligence–powered self-managing and self-learning capabilities “to stay relevant and keep up with what the majority of manufacturers believe will play a key role in the future,” the NAM recommends.

• To both maintain and expand their business, manufacturers that haven’t already should embed AI into their operations within the next five years.

About the report: Each year, the “Manufacturing Trends” report forecasts the most significant industry trends for the next 12 months, using NAM member feedback, industry surveys and expert interviews.

• It also uses research from the NAM’s Manufacturing Leadership Council (its digital transformation arm) and input from the Manufacturing Institute, the NAM’s 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate and the Innovation Research Interchange, the NAM’s innovation division.

Learn more: Want to hear more about what these trends mean for your company? Register for a webinar on Feb 5 to hear from a panel that includes PwC.