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From modernization to morale, we’ll show you what your business needs to thrive
Comprehensive manufacturing success requires effective strategies to enhance productivity, processes, and people. The manufacturing industry is currently realizing promising growth, but industry leaders seeking the competitive edge need the right strategies to scale for the long term amid changing markets.
To learn more about the current successes and struggles facing manufacturers, we combined insights from 1,400 manufacturing leaders and 1,200 manufacturing workers globally to create the “Future of Work in Manufacturing” report. Here are four key strategies and some actionable takeaways manufacturing leaders can implement today to prepare their workplace for the future:
To remain competitive, manufacturing organizations need to stay modern by adopting new and emerging technologies like AI, automation, robotics, and big data. However, despite increasing investments in technology, only 39% of workers in 2024 viewed their workplace as "very modern," compared to 52% of managers.
To increase your modernization efforts, evaluate where you can adopt new technologies that will make measurable improvements to efficiency, productivity, and cost savings. This may include things like digitizing paper documents, automating daily processes, increasing your use of data analytics, and adopting an ERP system as a hub of data insights.
According to our surveys, the top technologies that manufacturing companies are currently adopting include artificial intelligence or automation, robotics, data analytics and big data, 3D printing, cloud computing, and augmented reality. Finally, it’s essential to evaluate all new technology vendors and make a plan for implementation that includes communication, workforce training, and adoption.
Another area to invest in is upskilling, or increasing workers’ skill sets to help them improve in their current roles. Upskilling initiatives can provide numerous benefits for both workers and companies, including increasing comprehension of new technologies across the business. This new training can also increase worker morale, as it presents opportunities for expanded professional development, and is a great way to appeal to talent looking for their next role within the company.
To make things easy, provide on-site or on-the-job training, or give workers access to an online training platform where they can earn new certifications in their spare time—all the better to climb up the company ladder.
Supply chain disruptions can significantly impact a manufacturing organization and delay their production schedule, affecting customer fulfillment and revenue. This is why manufacturing leaders are taking steps to improve their supply chain resilience and make it more sustainable. According to our report, 75% of managers said that supply chain resilience and sustainability are very important to their organization.
To do so, many are adopting strategies that include implementing digital tracking tools for better visibility, adopting sustainable materials and practices, and diversifying suppliers. They’re also using technology to help them, like using IoT devices for real-time tracking, AI for predictive analytics, and blockchain for transparency. However, the biggest challenges impacting their efforts to improve their supply chain are costs, regulatory challenges, and an overall lack of the necessary technology.
Manufacturing success doesn't just come through improving the supply chain, increasing productivity, and implementing new technology. Having engaged and satisfied workers contributing to the goals of the company is a big factor as well.
However, in 2024, only 45% of manufacturing workers rated their morale as high—a 7% drop from 2023. Additionally, 57% of manufacturing managers rated the morale in their workplace as high—another 7% drop from 2023. Not only does this show that morale isn't as high as manufacturing leaders may like it—this gap between how managers rate workplace morale and how workers rate it indicates that managers may not understand the full picture of workplace engagement.
Both workers and managers have shared what does increase morale in their workplace, and taking steps to implement these initiatives can make a notable difference across the business. The primary initiatives that contribute to high morale are bonuses or higher pay, flexible work schedules, and more paid time off. But there are other factors that have an impact as well: Managers say implementing employee recognition programs or providing opportunities for professional growth help increase morale, while workers prioritize having leaders who listen to staff concerns and acknowledge their needs.
The best technological innovations are only as effective as the workforce that keeps them running. By focusing on improving modernization efforts, worker upskilling, supply chain management, and increasing morale and engagement, manufacturing leaders will better prepare themselves for future growth while anticipating the needs of tomorrow.
