The AI Operations Report 2026: Manufacturing

Go Inside 100 Manufacturing Organizations Running AI

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Manufacturers are committed.
Their infrastructure isn’t ready.

From governance and human oversight to data readiness and post-launch operations, this report reveals what it takes to scale AI on the factory floor.

83%

Believe AI is making them more competitive.

69%

Cite tech or infrastructure limitations as a top barrier, nearly 20 points above the survey average.

2%

Run AI autonomously in the background, the lowest of any industry surveyed.

How to Use the Report

Benchmark Your Program

See where your AI initiatives stand against 100 manufacturing organizations. Find out why 73% of manufacturers say data is where AI efforts most commonly stall.

Spot the Patterns

Learn where the operational gaps show up and what’s behind them. Manufacturers who bought an AI platform before defining a business problem are more than 3X as likely to stall on unclear use cases.

Apply the Findings

Get guidance for running AI as an ongoing discipline. 49% of manufacturers report more maintenance than they expected as agents scale, data changes, and use cases expand.

Resource the Work

Running AI is its own job. Data, adoption, and governance require continuous management after launch.

If I could do it again, I would invest time in data governance sooner.

Manufacturing Leader, AI Operations Survey

Meet Our AI Experts

Brian Gannuscio
Chief Digital Officer

Sam Taylor
Senior Director, Innovation & Emerging Technology

Andy Moldenhauer
Industry Advisor,

Manufacturing

Dustyn Foster
MAE + RCG

Solution Engineer

AI Manufacturing Trends to Watch in 2026

Dig into how legacy data silos, governance gaps, soft ROI metrics, and stretched teams play out across 100 manufacturing organizations.

Get the Report
Get the Report

By submitting this form, I understand that Coastal will process my information in accordance with its Privacy Policy, which may include sharing my data with sponsoring partners. I may receive marketing communications with exclusive invitations, relevant tips, insider perks, and more. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email I receive. To learn more, please visit our privacy policy.