2026 Manufacturing Industry Trends & Predictions 

A Forward Look at What Will Shape Manufacturing in 2026 

Manufacturers are entering 2026 with important questions about where to focus, which investments will matter, and how new technologies will influence day-to-day operations. Following a year of shifting supply networks, tariff changes, workforce pressure, and heightened sustainability demands, leaders are now looking for a clear view of what comes next.  

In this session, Andrew Burton and Maggie Slowik outline where change is most likely to be visible in the year ahead and what it means for strategic planning and operational decision-making across the industry.  

What We’ll Cover 

•    Where new productivity gains may emerge, including how people, processes, and automation will reshape capacity. 

•    How supply chain intelligence is evolving, and why data readiness is no longer the barrier many assume. 

•    The organizational changes taking shape as AI-enabled ways of working expand across planning, production, service, and the field. 

•    How sustainability pressures are influencing operational priorities, and what real-time visibility will require from manufacturers