To spot opportunities, we all need to monitor the manufacturing landscape closely. At Hexagon, we conduct extensive market monitoring to define our own technology roadmap. In doing this, our teams noticed a gap.
Amid all the future gazing that takes place in our sector, there is a huge space for real insight that is actionable right now.
It is important to be clear that organisations cannot make plans that are grounded in reality when the vast majority of resources focus on edge-of-future, conceptual visions for our sector that are wrapped up and presented like fact. It goes without saying that the adoption, sentiment and real-world plans of manufacturers – just like you – dictate the fate of any transformative concept or technology.
To help separate the distractions from the opportunities that exist right now in accelerating transformation, Hexagon set out to create a report that is genuinely linked to the transformation and technology adoption plans of manufacturers.
Advanced manufacturing report
Trend talk only goes so far, so our aim in creating a report was to deliver insights that leaders can use to shape and deliver their strategy. The critical piece here was to benchmark the transformation of real manufacturing businesses and gain a view of their technology adoption plans.
Hexagon commissioned a study conducted by Forrester. 524 global leaders were surveyed – 30% from North America, 40% EMEA and 30% APAC. Our sample was carefully designed to provide a senior-level view across decision-making disciplines with 24% c-level executives. Importantly, the sample is equally split across the five vertical manufacturing markets of aerospace and defence, automotive, healthcare and life sciences, electronics, power generation and general manufacturing.
The survey was designed to shine a spotlight on transformation across the areas of data, collaboration, and automation.
With no PR preening or editorial agenda, we are presenting the facts and figures as we found them, so you can determine exactly what is important to your business and planning processes.
Data as an enabler of manufacturing transformation
Everything we are planning, everything we are looking to improve, the innovation we are working towards, all hinges on data. Our aim at the outset was to get to the bottom of data harnessing, data quality and the degree to which businesses are putting data to work.
Data quality is of paramount importance, yet it poses significant challenges. The results of our survey clearly show that our industry is falling short in all areas related to gathering, managing and generating insights. If you are struggling with data yourself, the findings of our research could be the fast-track you need to identify and resolve your own challenges.
With 98% of our industry facing at least one data issue, these insights could help you to become the 2%.
Collaboration – bridging the gap
Manufacturing isn’t the only industry where collaboration has eroded. Since our factories began to evolve as workplaces, driven by the adoption of office software, digital equipment and accelerated by covid – many manufacturing companies are now part-analogue and part-digital. This creates places for problems to hide.
Linked inextricably to data harnessing, collaboration drives shop-floor cohesiveness, it’s about data on one hand, but it’s also about departments working toward common goals and breaking down silos on a team and human level.
Interestingly, the power of improved collaboration is something our respondents were quick to spot with 88% expecting improved product quality, 86% faster time to market and 82% recognising its importance in helping meet sustainability targets.
The full report sheds much more light on the interplay between collaboration, data and automation, offering insights that could help you to harness the power of cohesiveness across your value chain.
Automating to augment talent
Automation as we see and understand it in the factory today, is quite a specialised tool, used overwhelmingly to complete repetitive or dangerous tasks.
Automation though is due to shift left into the areas of design and engineering where generative tools and enactment of data insights via AI and ML will truly change the nature of its influence.
As a teaser to findings, our report concludes comprehensively that leadership in automation is a marker of manufacturing leadership. Examining response patterns closely showed that automation leaders tend also to be leaders in other areas such as technology, skills and sustainability.
In our report, you can benchmark your own automation status and find out where manufacturers just like you, plan to invest in the next three years.
Accelerate your transformation
Our study serves as both a practical audit of the current state of the manufacturing industry and a roadmap for future growth and success.
As we navigate the delicate balance between seizing potential and safeguarding survival, we encourage you to download the full report to drive your strategy. Let’s navigate these transformative times together, turning insights into action.
Come with us now and explore the report in full hexagon.com/advanced-manufacturing-report.
