Manufacturing Leadership Journal

The Manufacturing Leadership Journal October 2025

Bold Ideas for a Better Future

Survey: Manufacturers See Data, Lack Strategy

Despite persistent challenges, data has made measurable impacts on performance and decision-making.

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Dialogue: Agentic AI Moves from Insights to Action

NTT DATA’s Prasoon Saxena sees agentic AI as the next leap in manufacturing—necessary to accelerate cycles, fill labor gaps, increase global competitiveness, and reshape how humans and AI work together.

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Developing a Manufacturing Data Strategy

Unlock the full potential of your manufacturing operations by building a data strategy that drives visibility, innovation, and competitive advantage.

The Industrial Data Foundation Imperative: Building Manufacturing’s AI Future

Manufacturing leaders must prioritize industrial data readiness and governance now, as the gap between data-ready organizations and laggards threatens future…

Mastering Manufacturing Data for Real Advantage

It isn’t about collecting more data—it’s about building trust, reliability, and governance to act with confidence.

5 Key Questions on the Path to Industrial DataOps

Industrial DataOps enable manufacturers to be more agile, improve continuously, and move toward smart manufacturing

From Legacy to Leading Edge: Real Stories of Data-Driven Transformation

Four company stories highlight the essential role of effective data management and analysis for competitive advantage.

Digital Transformation Project Success Depends on Quality Data

Focusing on the quality of data is a critical factor determining the success or failure of transformational projects.

How Data Strategy and Governance Can Drive Success for Manufacturers

Unlocking value from data offers manufacturers new opportunities in a shifting economic landscape.

AI Turns Data Governance into a Middle Market Advantage

What was once expensive and burdensome is now practical, affordable, and essential.

AI with Open and Scaled Data Sharing in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Robust data sharing in a collaborative data ecosystem (CDE) scales qualified data and widens access to untapped operational advantages for…

“If data provides the pathway, then governance and analytics are the map. Creating a map that is accurate relies on validated, contextualized, high-quality data.”

Prasoon Saxena,
Global President and co-lead—Products Industries at NTT DATA, Inc.

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Also in this issue

MLC Plant Tour

United Scrap Metal and Its Vision for a Coast-to-Coast Recycling Network

Welcome New Members of the MLC October 2025

Introducing the latest new members to the Manufacturing Leadership Council

Merck, Celanese and Pure & Gentle Top Winners

Of the annual Manufacturing Leadership Awards.

Survey: Tariff Tumult Roils Supply Chains

More than 40% are already seeing a negative impact from tariffs, resulting in rising costs, a new MLC survey shows.…

Survey: M4.0 Appears Poised for A Significant Leap

As they climb up the maturity curve, manufacturers see a host of benefits as well as challenges with AI, says…

Survey: Leadership Preparedness Improves, but Gaps Remain

As they climb up the maturity curve, manufacturers see a host of benefits as well as challenges with AI, says…

Survey: Manufacturers See AI as a “Game-Changer” as They Ramp Up Investments

As they climb up the maturity curve, manufacturers see a host of benefits as well as challenges with AI, says…

For Manufacturers, Digital Maturity Hasn’t Yet Come of Age

Manufacturers are at an early stage of understanding how far advanced they are with Manufacturing 4.0, as they grapple with…

Survey: Smart Factories Are Still a Work in Progress

Manufacturers are moving ahead with creating smarter factories as they grapple with cultural resistance and integrating new technologies.

SURVEY: Manufacturers Go All-In on AI

A growing number of manufacturing organizations have brought AI to the shop floor, and as usage grows, so do aspirations…

SURVEY: Choppy Supply Chain Seas Making Skilled Sailors

MLC’s latest survey reveals continued disruptions and challenges but big shifts in digital technology deployments and supply network geography

Survey: On Board with Technology, At Sea with Strategy

Manufacturing executives want to know what digital transformation can do for their businesses, but an overall plan to find out…

Survey: Data Mastery is Slow to Mature but Essential

Manufacturers show some progress with data mastery efforts, but much opportunity for growth exists.

Survey: Smarter Factories Are on the Way

Manufacturers will be pressing ahead with their M4.0 investments as they expand their digital deployments in operations, a new MLC…

Survey: Sustainability Momentum Surges Dramatically

Sustainability is rapidly becoming one of the key drivers of industrial transformation for the rest of the decade, reveals the…

Survey: More Expect M4.0 Tech Adoption to Increase

A new MLC survey reveals that rapid technology adoption continues as manufacturers deploy transformative technologies to reshape how work gets…

SURVEY: Manufacturers Get Tough on Cybersecurity

More companies are taking a disciplined approach to dealing with the growing threat of cyber attacks, a new MLC survey…

SURVEY: Digital Leadership Playbook Still Work in Progress

In manufacturing’s new digital era, the requirements for leadership are evolving just as rapidly as the technology that is underpinning…

SURVEY: Manufacturing Supply Disruptions to Last Well Into 2023

A new MLC survey warns that disruption could continue for as long as two years as manufacturers strive to adopt…

SURVEY: Future Outlook: Hazy

While pandemic disruptions created a rush to move to M4.0, MLC’s latest Factories of the Future survey finds those plans…

Manufacturing’s Sustainability Challenge: The Race is On

The desire to adopt more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices is now an overwhelming sentiment among manufacturing executives, reveals the…

Pedal to the Metal

Manufacturers see data’s massive potential to improve operations, predict disruptions, and bring about new revenue streams, but realizing that promise…

Growing Pains

Manufacturers see data’s massive potential to improve operations, predict disruptions, and bring about new revenue streams, but realizing that promise…