UK manufacturers shift from AI Adoption to industrial execution, research suggests

Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced the UK findings of its 11th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report.

The study, based on feedback from more than 1,500 manufacturing leaders globally, highlights a clear shift in how UK manufacturers are approaching digital transformation. With 87% of organisations now recognizing it as essential and allocating an average of 27% of operating budgets to industrial technology, the UK has moved beyond early-stage adoption and into a phase where digital investment must translate into operational performance.

"UK manufacturers are moving beyond experimentation into a phase where digital technologies must deliver consistent operational outcomes," said Phil Hadfield, UK managing director, Rockwell Automation. "The challenge is no longer access to technology, but the ability to embed it into production environments in a way that improves performance, resilience and competitiveness."

Artificial intelligence sits at the center of this transition. Nearly half of manufacturers have already invested in AI, and adoption of generative AI is now widespread. The focus, however, is shifting away from experimentation toward practical use cases that deliver measurable value. Cybersecurity has emerged as the leading AI application, followed closely by quality control and process optimisation, reflecting a growing emphasis on protecting and stabilising increasingly complex production environments.

This growing reliance on connected technologies is also reshaping risk. Half of UK manufacturers report experiencing at least one cyberattack in the past year, despite strong levels of investment in cybersecurity. The implication is clear: as digital maturity increases, so too does exposure. Cybersecurity is no longer a supporting function, but a central pillar of industrial strategy.

More broadly, UK manufacturing is showing clear signs of maturity. Smart manufacturing technologies are now widely deployed, and adoption is accelerating as organisations focus on scaling what works rather than piloting new tools. Artificial intelligence is increasingly seen as the technology most likely to deliver meaningful operational improvements, reinforcing its central role in the next phase of industrial transformation.

Taken together, the findings suggest that UK manufacturing is entering a new phase of digital transformation. The foundations have been laid, investment is established and adoption is widespread. The next challenge is execution — turning digital capability into consistent, scalable performance in an increasingly complex industrial landscape.