“At some point, the industry has to wake up and ask: When are we going to treat supply chain as strategic? Until supply chain is recognized as a strategic center, we won’t unlock the future of manufacturing.”
Dave Evans, President and CEO of MISUMI Americas
The 2026 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain: AI, Resilience, and the Path Forward is here!
From geopolitical instability and tariff complexity to raw material cost pressure and engineering bandwidth constraints, leaders are operating in a permanently disrupted environment. At the same time, AI has crossed the threshold from experimentation to essential infrastructure.
Based on insights from 321 director-level and above leaders across MedTech, EV, Robotics, and Climate Tech, Fictiv’s 11th annual report reveals how manufacturers are redesigning their operating models around AI-enabled execution, digital manufacturing platforms, and regional resilience.
The report is for:
- Engineers who spend too much time on procurement
- Sourcing teams dealing with rising complexity
- Leaders under pressure to deliver speed and quality
The report covers:
- 97% of respondents say digital manufacturing platforms are essential for production.
- 95% believe AI is now a requirement for future success.
- 83% of engineers report spending four or more hours per week on procurement-related tasks.
Save time, sharpen your strategy, and avoid falling behind. Download the 2026 State of Manufacturing and Supply Chain report.
Survey Methodology and Respondent Profile
The 2026 State of Manufacturing and Supply Chain report is based on a survey of 321 director-level and above manufacturing leaders across production, engineering, supply chain, R&D, and digital innovation, with strong representation from mid-to-large companies and key sectors like MedTech, Climate Tech, EV, and Robotics. It tracks trends from 2020–2026, with especially reliable year-over-year comparisons between 2025 and 2026 due to a consistent respondent profile.
