Report: Improving manufacturing and supply chain visibility are top priorities for industry leaders

Report: Improving manufacturing and supply chain visibility are top priorities for industry leaders

May 29, 2024
The report, which tracks perspectives on the economy, supply chain, AI, sustainability, and more, shows that the manufacturing industry is at an inflection point.

Fictiv has released its ninth-annual State of Manufacturing Report. Created with assistance from Dimensional Research, the report highlights responses from 178 industry decision makers who work in engineering, supply chain, research and development, and digital innovation roles. These leaders come from a range of industries, including consumer electronics, medical devices, automotive, industrial and robotics, aerospace, or energy.

The report, which tracks perspectives on the economy, supply chain, AI, sustainability, and more, shows that the manufacturing industry is at an inflection point. According to Fictiv, the industry is poised between innovation, growth, and the drive to reduce costs and increase profitability. This year’s report shows that improving manufacturing and supply chain visibility are most important to manufacturing decision makers, with manufacturers reporting that economic headwinds and labor costs and shortages are the top factors impacting 2024 strategies.

Below are a few key takeaways from the report.

  • 87% of surveyed leaders say that artificial intelligence is "...vital to my company's future success."
  • 45% of respondents plan to increase the speed of innovation, with barriers to innovation decreasing
  • 66% of surveyed manufacturers say reshoring is a priority for their supply chain strategy

Download the report

What people are saying

In a recent quote, Dave Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Fictiv said, "The last four years have redefined what a world-class operations or supply chain team needs to operate successfully in a tough economic environment. It's become the expectation for supply chain teams to decrease costs and get products to market faster, all while doing more with less due to lower expenses as companies push to profitability as their number one metric. With all the headwinds faced in navigating risks over the last four years, supply chain leaders have one of the world's toughest jobs. Now, these leaders are battle-hardened and looking for efficiencies everywhere, turning to technology and regionalization strategies."

Recent reports on the manufacturing industry

Report: Optimism amongst manufacturers is on the rise
According to the data, on a scale of one to 10, manufacturing executives rated their optimism an average of 7.07.

Report: 83% of manufacturers plan to use generative AI in their operations this year 
95% of manufacturers are using or evaluating smart manufacturing technology.

Report: American manufacturing may need 3.8 million new workers by 2033
Up to 5 in 10, or 1.9 million, skilled jobs could go unfilled.

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

Sponsored Recommendations

April 14, 2025
This paper addresses where leaks commonly occur, leak detection methods, and practical advice for an audit and repair plan. You'll learn why an ongoing leak detection and repair...
April 14, 2025
Here are some things you can do in between formal preventive maintenance visits on your electric screw compressor to extend compressor life and prevent downtime.
April 14, 2025
They cost more than refrigerated dryers. They need more parts and service than refrigerated dryers. They increase demand for compressed air. So when should you use a desiccant...
April 14, 2025
Follow these ten steps for energy savings in your compressed air system.