News and Insights
Survey: Manufacturers Embrace AI Tools to Speed Product Innovation
October 9, 2026GenAI tools are slated for further investment in the next two years to help accelerate design and engineering processes. Artificial intelligence tools, particularly those of the GenAI variety, are making significant inroads in the new product innovation process as manufacturers seek to accelerate engineering and design to bring innovations to market faster. At the same…
The Scaling Constraint: Trusted Operational Information
October 5, 2026As manufacturers scale analytics and AI, hidden OT technical debt often undermines trusted operational information. Manufacturers rarely discover information-scaling problems when a machine fails; they discover them when comparable plants produce different answers to the same performance question. For example, one site reports higher uptime than another. Both teams trust their numbers, yet the comparison…
Leaders from Corning, General Motors Join Manufacturing Leadership Council Board of Governors
October 2, 2026Washington, D.C.—The Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of the National Association of Manufacturers, today announced the election of Kristen DellaVecchia, Corporate Sustainability Project Manager at Corning Incorporated, and Mike Trevorrow, Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing at General Motors, to the MLC’s Board of Governors. The MLC Board of Governors is a distinguished…
Executive Dialogue: Leading at AI Speed
September 30, 2026Alan Machuga of Rheem explains why the future of AI isn’t content creation—it’s better business decisions. Penelope Brown: Hello, everyone, and welcome to today’s edition of Executive Dialogue from the Manufacturing Leadership Council. Today I am super excited to be talking to Alan Machuga, who is the Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy and AI…
Rethink Opening Address: The Inevitability of Autonomous Operations
July 8, 2026Autonomous operations are becoming inevitable as AI, robotics and other advanced technologies converge in manufacturing. The article argues that human oversight, guardrails and governance must remain central.
Rheem, General Motors Named Top Winners in 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Competition
June 25, 2026Rheem’s Alan Machuga was named 2026 Manufacturing Leader of the Year, while General Motors won Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year. Pure & Gentle earned Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year in the Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
Orchestrating Material Handling with AI & Automation
May 1, 2026AI, automation, virtualization and secure IT/OT orchestration can turn material handling constraints into scalable competitive advantage. A unified digital foundation helps manufacturers reduce risk, unlock data and optimize operations across the enterprise.
Building an OT Organization in an IT World
April 24, 2026Manufacturers need intentional IT/OT structures to clarify ownership, automate workflows, and close capability gaps. A future-ready organization should fit company size, talent access, and evolving digital needs.
Manufacturing Leadership Council Announces Finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards
April 10, 2026Manufacturing Leadership Council named finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards and Partners in Collaborative Innovation, recognizing digital transformation leaders across the manufacturing sector.
Can AI Agents Catalyze Faster, Smarter Product Design?
March 6, 2026AI agents help manufacturers speed product design by surfacing cross-system insights, reducing rework and automating routine tasks. They enhance human judgment with relevant options and historical context, especially when paired with strong governance and clear KPIs.
Dialogue: Leading Manufacturing Through AI Change
March 1, 2026Rockwell’s Blake Moret says manufacturing must urgently adopt AI and smart manufacturing, with supportive policy and a learning culture, to stay competitive amid tariffs and supply chain risks.
Future-Proofing Business Amid Workforce Change
February 24, 2026As experienced workers exit the industry, manufacturers must embed product and commercial expertise into scalable, digital processes.
Resilient IT/OT Architectures: Protecting Against Cyber and Operations Risk
February 12, 2026Manufacturers can follow strategic steps to build resilience across IT and OT environments while advancing their business objectives.
Survey: Smart Factories Enter the Execution Era
January 31, 2026Manufacturers say smart factories have moved into an execution era, with AI maturing, digital transformation becoming a competitive advantage, and more than 90% planning to maintain or increase investments in 2026.
The Best of Rethink 2025
November 23, 2025Rethink 2025 marked 20 years of Manufacturing 4.0 insights, featuring sessions on digital transformation, innovation, and next-generation leadership from industry experts and manufacturers.
From Legacy to Leading Edge: Real Stories of Data-Driven Transformation
September 30, 2025Four company stories show how modernizing legacy data systems, governance, and analytics helps manufacturers unlock better decisions, operational visibility, and AI-driven competitive advantage.
5 Key Questions on the Path to Industrial DataOps
September 30, 2025Industrial DataOps helps manufacturers turn siloed data into real-time insights, improving agility, continuous improvement, and smart manufacturing. A data product strategy and unified standards can scale value across factories, supply chains, and future AI needs.
Survey: Manufacturers See Data, Lack Strategy
September 30, 2025Manufacturers say data is driving efficiency, cost savings and better decisions, but nearly half lack corporate governance plans and many still struggle to turn data into strategy.
