RESEARCH REPORT
2026 is a leadership test for North American factories
Based on a survey of 600+ manufacturing leaders, this report reveals how AI, automation, workforce transformation, and intelligent infrastructure are reshaping factory operations.
This report covers:
- Where manufacturers are prioritizing AI investment
- The biggest operational risks facing plants today
- How leaders are approaching workforce transformation
- What separates high-performing automation programs
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Insights from:
Life Sciences,
Automotive,
Consumer-Industrial
600+
Factory leaders surveyed
Inside the 2026 report
AI adoption trends
Where AI is delivering value and where it’s headed next.
Workforce transformation
Skills, talent strategies, and the future of factory work.
Operational excellence
The top priorities and performance differentiators.
Digital infrastructure & data
Building the foundation for intelligent factories.
Investment outlook
Budgets, challenges, and confidence for 2026.
Informed by industry experts
This report reinforces that every automation decision today also shapes the AI factory built alongside it—the ability to generate, refine, and deploy intelligence for the physical factory. Top performers aren’t just adding automation; they’re building integrated systems, structured data, and clear accountability to scale intelligence.
Jeff Winter
Vice President, Commercial Strategy
Belden Inc.
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