UK manufacturers indicate investment intentions in AI
Three quarters of Britain’s manufacturers are to step up their level of investment in AI but barriers to adoption remain for SMEs, according to a Make UK report.
The ‘Future Factories powered by AI’ report in collaboration with Autodesk examines the opportunities and challenges for UK manufacturers and proposes how government initiatives and regulation can support the adoption of new technologies.
AI is being deployed across multiple areas of manufacturing, from predictive maintenance to supply chain optimisation. The most significant benefits cited by manufacturers include increased efficiency (69 per cent), improved productivity (61 per cent), and automation of routine tasks (46 per cent).
The report also shows a quarter of companies using AI as part of efforts to decarbonise. Of those, 93 per cent are using it to optimise energy consumption, 64 per cent to reduce waste and emissions, and 57 per cent to improve resource efficiency. Looking forward, companies should see further gains in these areas with 75 per cent planning to increase their AI investments in the coming year.
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