The global study, conducted in March 2025, surveyed over 1,500 manufacturers from 17 leading economies, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The findings paint a picture of accelerated digital transformation across the sector, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where AI has become a central pillar of operational strategy.
“We’re seeing strong momentum across Asia Pacific in adopting AI and smart manufacturing technologies, not just as buzzwords but as mission-critical capabilities to drive quality, agility and growth,” said Scott Wooldridge, Regional President, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation.
“What stands out this year is the region’s tech-first mindset, with nearly half of the manufacturers already scaling AI to address workforce gaps, cybersecurity risks, and evolving sustainability targets. The focus has clearly shifted from experimentation to execution.”
“Today’s technology advancements are unlocking new opportunities where the combined potential of people and technology will shape our collective future,” added Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO, Rockwell Automation.
“As this year’s report shows, manufacturers around the world are using smart manufacturing to navigate disruption and create new opportunities for speed and agility. At Rockwell, we believe innovation and resilience go hand in hand. With the right technology and right people, we can simplify complexity and lead with confidence during times of dynamic change.”
Key Asia Pacific Insights
- 94% of APAC manufacturers have either invested in or plan to invest in AI/ML and Generative or Causal AI over the next five years.
- 46% believe AI/ML can help mitigate workforce shortages, and 42% are deploying tech to enrich job roles.
- Quality control (47%), cybersecurity (44%), and process optimisation (43%) are the top three AI use cases.
- 55% are driving sustainability initiatives mainly to enhance operational efficiency—up from 39% in 2024.
- 95% acknowledge cybersecurity as critically important, though 28% cite limited leadership awareness as a barrier.
Global Trends and Technology Adoption
- 81% of global manufacturers say both internal and external pressures are pushing digital transformation.
- 95% are investing or plan to invest in AI/ML, while adoption of generative and causal AI has grown 12% year-on-year.
- Cybersecurity ranks as the second-largest external risk, with 49% planning to use AI for cyber protection in 2025—up from 40% in 2024.
- Quality control remains the top AI application globally, selected by 50% of respondents.
- The need for AI literacy among leadership has jumped—half of all respondents now consider it an essential skill, up from just 10% last year.
Beyond automation, the report highlights how smart technologies are being leveraged to improve supply chain resilience, accelerate sustainability targets, and enable faster, data-driven decisions. However, upskilling and change management remain key challenges as companies transition from legacy systems to agile, AI-powered operations.
With its strong emphasis on digital transformation, Asia Pacific is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of smart manufacturing, turning challenges into opportunities with scalable, tech-driven solutions.
