Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the most important tool for factories around the world. A major new study from a company called Xometry shows that AI is no longer just something companies test. Instead, it has become a key part of how factories operate every day.

The report surveyed factory leaders across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. The results show that 82% of manufacturers now believe AI is essential for helping their companies grow. This is a huge change from just a few years ago when AI was considered experimental technology.

AI agents are now working in many different parts of factory operations. These smart computer programs help with supply chain planning, which means figuring out what materials to order and when. They also help with procurement, which is buying the right supplies at the best prices. AI agents check product quality to make sure everything meets standards. They even help manage production workflows, which means organizing how products move through the factory.

The results speak for themselves. About 44% of manufacturers have seen significant return on investment from their AI projects. This means they have made back more money than they spent on AI tools. When companies see this kind of success, they want to invest even more.

Looking ahead to 2026, more than 85% of companies plan to spend at least $100,000 on AI initiatives. This represents a major shift from small pilot projects to enterprise-wide deployment. Companies that once thought AI was optional now treat it as essential for competing in today's market.

The business reasons for this shift are clear. Factories face many challenges including volatile supply chains, rising costs, and tightening delivery windows. AI helps solve these problems by cutting errors, reducing cycle times, and lowering costs. In the United States especially, AI is evolving from a buzzword into a practical business driver.

However, there is a major challenge threatening this progress. Finding skilled workers who can use AI tools effectively is becoming increasingly difficult. About 44% of companies identified workforce constraints as a major obstacle to faster AI-driven innovation.

The numbers show this problem is getting worse over time. The share of manufacturers struggling to find qualified employees has climbed from 56% in October 2023 to 68% in August 2025. This means more than two-thirds of factories cannot find the workers they need.

Experts warn that while AI can help address some labor shortages, its rapid expansion could create new gaps. If companies don't have people who can manage and maintain these AI systems, the technology won't reach its full potential.

The good news is that companies don't need to hire computer programmers to use AI effectively. The report emphasizes that employees shouldn't have to be coders to use AI tools. Instead, companies can speed up adoption by using flexible, AI-enabled platforms that don't require extensive coding knowledge.

The best approach is to treat AI as a tool to empower employees, not replace them. Companies should pair investment in AI technology with efforts to train their existing workforce. They should also work to build new talent pipelines through trade schools and professional societies.

This would allow more workers to apply AI in their daily jobs and help manufacturers fully capture the technology's potential. When workers feel supported and trained, they can work alongside AI agents more effectively.

In the aerospace industry, similar changes are coming. A study by Tata Consultancy Services shows that aerospace leaders expect AI to transform everything from manufacturing to supply chains by 2035. However, even with all this automation and digital technology, human expertise will remain vital.

This pattern shows up across different types of manufacturing. Whether companies make airplanes, cars, electronics, or other products, they all need the right balance of AI technology and human skills. The companies that succeed will be those that invest in both advanced AI agents and worker training programs.