INDUSTRY.co.id – JAKARTA – Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has released the results of its 8th annual "State of Smart Manufacturing Report," revealing that over 45 percent of Asia-Pacific manufacturers are struggling to outpace competitors due to deficiencies in innovation, skilled workforce availability, and technology adoption.
The report, which surveyed manufacturers across the Asia-Pacific region, highlights a widening gap between manufacturers that have successfully embraced digital transformation and those still grappling with legacy systems and operational inefficiencies. The findings underscore the urgency for manufacturers in the region to accelerate their smart manufacturing journeys.
Veena Lakkundi, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Rockwell Automation, said the results reflect the competitive pressures that manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region are facing as global supply chains are restructured and customer expectations evolve rapidly.
"The manufacturers who are winning are those who have made smart manufacturing a strategic priority — not just a technology project. The challenge for many in APAC is closing the gap quickly enough to remain competitive," Lakkundi said.
Key findings indicate that skills shortages remain the top concern among APAC manufacturers, with a significant portion citing difficulty in recruiting and retaining workers with the technical expertise needed to operate advanced manufacturing systems. Technology integration complexity and high upfront costs of digital transformation were also identified as major barriers.
Despite the challenges, the report found positive momentum, with a growing share of manufacturers investing in industrial automation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. The report recommends that companies prioritize workforce upskilling, partner with technology vendors for phased implementations, and develop clear smart manufacturing roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
