The AI Opportunity Most Manufacturers Haven’t Acted On Yet
Manufacturers are increasingly clear on one point: as AI moves deeper into operations, workers will need new skills to keep pace.
The NAM Q2 Outlook Survey suggests employers are beginning to define AI readiness on the shop floor—and they are not expecting every worker to become an AI expert.
Instead, they are prioritizing practical capabilities: working alongside AI-enabled equipment, understanding AI-generated insights and applying new tools to improve day-to-day operations.
Manufacturers Are Prioritizing Practical AI Skills
When asked what AI-related skills frontline employees will need as these tools become more integrated into manufacturing processes, manufacturers emphasized practical application.
Still, nearly a quarter of manufacturers (22.6%) said it is too early to determine exactly what skills employees will need, underscoring how quickly the technology landscape is evolving.
Only a small share of respondents identified advanced AI expertise as the primary need. The results reinforce that manufacturers see AI as a practical tool workers can use to do their jobs more effectively—not as technology limited to specialized roles.
Training Efforts Are Still Catching Up
Even as manufacturers sharpen their view of future workforce needs, many remain in the early stages of building AI training programs.
Just over four in ten respondents said they do not currently provide AI-related training to frontline employees. Among those that do, most focus on introductory content that helps employees understand what AI is and how it is being used in manufacturing environments.
For manufacturers still defining their AI strategy, workforce development does not need to wait. The greatest near-term need is practical AI literacy—not advanced expertise. Foundational training can help employees build confidence with AI-enabled tools today while creating a base for more specialized training as adoption expands.
A Well-Timed Opportunity
As manufacturers work to close the gap between AI adoption and workforce readiness, practical, manufacturing-focused training will be critical—especially for the 41.4% that have yet to take action. To help manufacturers move from awareness to implementation, the MI’s AI Skills Initiative will launch new resources this fall to help employers and workers build the skills needed to use AI confidently and effectively in manufacturing environments.
The initiative is designed to equip current and future manufacturing workers with practical AI skills that reflect how manufacturers are using the technology today, including AI-enabled vision systems for quality and predictive maintenance. Because AI adoption is moving quickly, delaying workforce preparation risks widening the gap between what jobs require and what workers are equipped to do. Through workforce programs, educational partnerships and employer engagement, the initiative will help workers build the foundational and role-specific competencies manufacturers say they need most.
The survey points to a clear opportunity: manufacturers are identifying the skills workers will need to succeed in AI-enabled workplaces. The next step is making those skills accessible across the manufacturing workforce.
As AI adoption evolves, success will depend not only on the technology, but on the people prepared to use it.