Rockwell Automation, one of the world’s leading companies in industrial automation, informatization and digital transformation, has released the eighth edition of its annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report: Consumer Products Edition. The global survey received responses from 216 executives covering leading companies in the consumer packaged goods sector from 13 countries and regions.

The annual report details the evolution of the consumer packaged goods industry, including the home and personal care, food and beverage industries, focusing on the balance of quality and profitable growth, the automation of processes, the application of smart manufacturing, and the important role of technology in mitigating risk, improving quality, and maintaining competitiveness and business continuity.

Key findings from the global survey include:

Fifty-two percent of consumer goods manufacturers cited inflation as their top external challenge in 2023.
Forty-two percent are accelerating their digital transformation to stay competitive, while another 44 percent are doing so to improve quality.
On average, consumer goods companies invest slightly more than a fifth of their operating budget in technology; The top three investments are cloud technology (45 percent), supply chain planning (42 percent) and cybersecurity (41 percent).

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Fifty-seven percent use software to automate processes and 63 percent use software to better track corporate data. Notably, 48 percent of organizations are responding to labor shortages by increasing automation.
90% of consumer goods manufacturers believe that the adoption of technology will enable them to maintain or expand their current workforce. 38% of manufacturers plan to reallocate existing labor; Twenty-nine percent of manufacturers believe the adoption of technology will prompt them to hire more employees.
In terms of practical outcomes, 31% of consumer goods manufacturers say smart manufacturing initiatives have helped them cope with the impact of COVID-19 and keep pace with market transformation. In addition, 28% of manufacturers say smart manufacturing helps reduce cybersecurity risks.
95% of consumer goods manufacturers have introduced ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) initiatives; 44% of companies see sustainability and ESG initiatives as competitive differentiators.
“In the past year, the consumer packaged goods industry has experienced a series of severe challenges, with supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and inflation all having a big impact on companies.” Lee Coffey, strategic marketing manager for consumer packaged Goods at Rockwell Automation, said, “For businesses to adapt to these changes, they need to be agile and innovative, and willing to embrace new ways of working to survive and thrive in this era of uncertainty.”

A growing number of consumer goods leaders are looking to technology as a solution to a host of challenges. These companies often adopt emerging technologies to mitigate internal and external risks.

“Rockwell Automation understands that the consumer goods industry is constantly evolving, and we are committed to providing companies around the world with the expertise and solutions to help them succeed.” Coffey said, “With Rockwell Automation’s unique portfolio of dynamic industry solutions and a large partner ecosystem, we will be a trusted advisor in the consumer goods space. No matter where a company is in its digital transformation and smart manufacturing journey, Rockwell Automation can meet its needs and help drive innovation.”