The factory floor has changed before. From lean production to automation and connected systems – each shift has changed how manufacturers work. Now AI is adding another set of possibilities, but it is just one part of a much bigger change in how manufacturers work.
The roles behind that work are changing too. Engineering expertise remains essential, but many now draw on skills in robotics, automation, AI and machine learning, as well as the judgement to know what to do with the information these systems provide. Manufacturers need to help their existing teams develop those skills while giving the next generation a reason to join them.
As the industry marks National Manufacturing Day, experts from across the sector explore what manufacturers need to make these technologies work in practice, from developing skills and attracting new talent to getting their data and systems right.
Equipping the next generation with the skills to power modern manufacturing
For UK manufacturers competing in a global market, workforce development has quickly become a strategic priority. That means making time for people to learn as the technology changes but also showing young people what a career in manufacturing looks like today.
“Investing in new tools will only pay off if employees have the engineering and technical skills to use them effectively, from understanding automated processes to working with data and AI-enabled equipment. Continuously developing these skills is an essential part of building a modern manufacturing workforce,” says Faye Ellis, Principal Training Architect at Pluralsight.
“We also need to challenge outdated perceptions of manufacturing, and show young people the opportunities a career in the sector can offer. Greater investment in apprenticeships and work placements will be key to attracting new talent, building the skills the industry needs and creating a stronger pipeline for the future,” she says.
“Young people need opportunities to see modern manufacturing in practice and understand how the subjects they study, from maths and computing to engineering, translate into real-world applications,” adds Sharon Budworth, Vice President People and Internal Communications at Pragmatic Semiconductor.
Martin Tombs, Field CTO EMEA at Qlik, says that picture now includes a wider range of roles. “National Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to show young people what modern manufacturing really looks like. Engineering remains at its heart, but the growing use of data, AI and analytics is creating new roles and career paths for the next generation.
“These technologies are already helping manufacturers on the factory floor, from spotting equipment failures to tackling quality issues and improving production in real time. But making the most of them depends on people having the data literacy and digital confidence to understand the insights, apply their own judgement and make better decisions.”
Steve Bennington, CEO at Q5D, also sees an opportunity to attract people with both engineering and digital skills.
“The idea of what a career in manufacturing looks like has drastically changed in recent years. In a modern factory today, you will see traditional engineering sit alongside robotics, software, automation and digital technology. This changes the mix of skills manufacturers need, with a growing demand for people who can combine engineering expertise with newer digital capabilities.”
“That creates a real opportunity for the next generation entering the industry. As more repetitive processes are automated, people can focus on problem-solving and adding value.”
Securing the future success of global manufacturing
Skills are one part of making new technology useful. Manufacturers also need data and systems that give their teams a clear picture of what is happening across the business.
Asif Moghal, Director D&M Market & Industry Development at Autodesk, says manufacturers should look closely at whether AI is helping their teams work better, rather than focusing on how much they have spent on it.
“The businesses actually pulling ahead aren’t the ones who spent the most; they’re the ones who did the unglamorous work first: connecting their data, integrating their workflows, and making sure the people using these tools actually trust what they’re being shown. Skip that, and AI just helps you make bad decisions faster and with more confidence,” he says.
“The real opportunity in front of UK manufacturing isn’t a race to adopt more technology. It’s the harder, less exciting work of getting the foundations right, together, rather than bolting AI onto a business that was never built to use it well.”
Shane Taylor, Manufacturing Technical Specialist at ECI Software Solutions, says getting those foundations right starts with the information manufacturers already have.
“That does not mean ripping everything out and starting again. Often, it begins with making better use of the information a business already has. When production, stock and supply chain data sits in one place, teams can spot problems earlier, spend less time chasing updates and plan with greater confidence. It also gives AI the reliable information it needs to be genuinely useful on the factory floor.”
Balancing technological innovation with human expertise
Having reliable information is one step but, making it available across the factory is another. For Jan Diekmann, Head of Business Development, Manufacturing and Warehousing, Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, connectivity is central to this.
“As manufacturers deploy smart technologies, they need secure, reliable, high-speed connectivity, such as private 5G, to provide an engine to support real-time data exchange and automation in demanding environments. This is the starting point to help turbocharge digital driven automation through reliable and secure connectivity,” he says.
Will Dutton, Director of Supply Chain Solutions at UiPath, agrees that humans and technology need to work side-by-side: “Despite geopolitical shocks and tariffs causing frequent disruption, many production planning systems remain too rigid to respond in real time. Supply chain planners often bridge this gap by drawing on expertise that sits outside those systems. Agentic AI can help bring that knowledge directly into the planning process.”
“Success should ultimately be measured by business outcomes – including faster decisions and more responsive operations – rather than the number of agents deployed.”
Getting the balance right
The tools used in manufacturing will keep changing, and so will the jobs around them. Manufacturers need to show young people what those jobs look like, give experienced teams the chance to build new skills, and make sure people have data they can trust when decisions need to be made. That’s what will help them get more from the technology they already have, as well as whatever comes next.
