The quarterly American Manufacturing Resurgence survey, conducted by Forbes, Xometry and John Zogby Strategies, has just been released. CEOs and decision-makers from over 150 companies across the country were asked to offer their insights on the direction of the industry. One key area of interest was artificial intelligence. Of those surveyed, 80% are investing in AI and plan to implement AI technologies within the next two years. Approximately 70% of AI projects have seen a near-immediate return on their investment, and AI has tied automation as the most important tool for leadership to use to drive efficiency and productivity at their companies. Additional key findings include:
- 86% of those surveyed support federal regulations to govern the use of AI
- Many CEOs plan to use AI for supply chain management and manufacturing procurement
- 48% of respondents have reshored all or some of their processes
In a recent quote, Randy Altschuler, CEO of Xometry, said, “American manufacturers continue to embrace digital tools and technologies such as automation, robotics and cloud-based workflow systems to modernize shops and compete better on a global scale. For the first time in our polling, AI has pulled even with automation as the #1 investment CEOs are making to drive efficiency, strengthen supply chains and get goods to market faster. As they race to implement AI in their shops, a record number of American CEOs have reshored or are planning to reshore their operations to protect against future supply chain shocks.”