2026 AI in Manufacturing Report

The State of AI Data Readiness in Manufacturing

Manufacturers are adopting AI without the full dataset they need to drive ROI. We asked 169 manufacturing leaders where their frontline data really stands. See the gaps, and what to fix first.

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169 leaders · 28 questions · A 20-minute read

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What you get

One report. Four gaps. A clear place to start.

Most plants have already rolled AI out with an incomplete dataset, which limits AI's benefits. The report tells you which data gaps exist, how common they are, and how you can set your data up for a successful AI deployment.

Five findingsThe data behind each one, from 169 leaders.

Four gapsHow each one shows up on the plant floor.

Three segmentsWhich one your plant is in, and what that means.

Four recommendationsIn the order to tackle them.

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Cover of The State of AI Data Readiness in Manufacturing report

What to do about it

Know what to fix first, so that you can get the most out of AI

Every plant has a different mix of gaps, so the report does not hand you one checklist. It helps you work out which gaps you have, how far they hold your AI back, and which to close first.

Spot the gaps in your own data

Each of the four gaps comes with the signs to look for on your floor, so you can tell which ones apply to your plant and which do not.

Get four recommendations you can act on

Each recommendation closes a specific gap and stands on its own, with what it looks like in practice and what to look for in a platform.

The full recommendations, and the order to tackle them are in the report.

Customer stories

Manufacturers already closing the gaps

Make capture easier than paper

46%Increased completion rates for audits and quality checks

“Having a tool that’s so adaptable and easy to use has not only saved us time but has also made our work environment much more enjoyable.”

Mars · Waco plant

Standardize how issues get recorded

100+Abnormalities logged by 60+ active users within 90 days

“Weever removed barriers, making it easy for associates to report issues, and the data’s accuracy gave everyone confidence in the process.”

Royal Canin

Close the loop

92%Close rate on submitted behaviour-based safety observations

“Weever helped us increase engagement and participation instantly.”

Baywater

Connect it

3–4 hrsReporting time saved every day

“We could also see where issues were happening and make adjustments quickly.”

Monin

About the report

Questions before you download

Who took the survey?

169 leaders at manufacturing organizations with 500 or more employees, including plant managers, production managers, continuous improvement managers, VPs and executives.

What does the report cover?

Five findings on AI adoption and frontline data, the four gaps behind them, the three readiness segments, and four recommendations to close the gaps.

How long is it?

About 20 minutes end to end. Each finding stands on its own, so you can go straight to the sections that matter to your plant.