Global survey reveals shifting priorities, increased technology investments, and workforce engagement challenges in the automotive industry
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced the results of the 9th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report: Automotive Edition.” The global study encompasses the responses of 182 leaders from automotive manufacturers, automotive supply manufacturers, and electric vehicle manufacturers across 15 of the leading manufacturing countries.
This year’s report emphasizes the evolution of the automotive industry, revealing a focus on harnessing emergent technology to reduce risk, generate growth, and maximize workforce potential. Automotive manufacturers are acutely aware of the industry’s evolution in the era of Industry 4.0, particularly as cyberattacks resulted in $1.99 billion in system downtime costs in the first half of 2023 alone.
Key global findings include:
- Cybersecurity risk is listed as the top external obstacle for automotive manufacturers in 2024 – up from 9th position in 2023.
- 97% of automotive manufacturers are using or evaluating smart manufacturing technology – up from 85% in 2023.
- Technology investments increased 35% year-over-year, from 23% to 31% of the operating budget.
- Wearable technology is listed as one of the top 10 investment areas for automotive manufacturers in 2024, ranking third overall.
- Employee engagement is the top workforce-related obstacle for automotive manufacturers in 2024.
- Reducing manufacturing waste is the factor that matters most to automotive manufacturers’ ESG programs.
“As the automotive industry is navigating an era of rapid transformation, setting clear goals and fostering cross-departmental collaboration have emerged as critical factors—and obstacles—for success,” said James Glasson, vice president, global industry – auto, tire & advanced mobility at Rockwell Automation. “This year’s report highlights the pressing need for automotive manufacturers to prioritize organizational change management and adopt technologies that enhance the capabilities of their workforce.”
Automotive manufacturers are focusing on strategies that prioritize workforce retention, upskilling, and engagement. Technologies such as smart manufacturing and automation, which complement and augment the value brought by their employees, are key to driving positive business outcomes.
“At Rockwell, our deep industry expertise and comprehensive portfolio of industry solutions, combined with our extensive PartnerNetwork™, puts us in a unique position to serve as a trusted advisor to automotive companies worldwide,” said Glasson. “Regardless of where companies are in their digital transformation and smart manufacturing journeys, we meet them where they are and help them achieve sustainable growth.”
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