They’re overworked, financially stretched, and under mounting pressure to do more with less. Around the globe, frontline workforces are burnt out. According to UKG’s 2025 Global Frontline Study, more than half of frontline employees feel like they’re living to work rather than working to live.
The obvious solution to reducing this strain? AI. But many industries are still confused by it. Many still fear it.
Except manufacturing.
UKG’s study found that frontline workers in are more optimistic about AI and they trust it more compared to other sectors. This means that manufacturing isn’t merely keeping pace with AI adoption. It’s leading the charge.
From buzzword to business tool
Although AI is being adopted broadly across various sectors, the majority of organisations are still testing or trialling the technology, according to a global McKinsey survey in 2025. Full-scale implementations across business functions have yet to occur.
However, manufacturing organisations are ahead of the curve. Findings from the UKG study show that 41% of frontline manufacturing employees currently use AI at work, compared to 38% globally. Plus, more manufacturing employees want AI to support their jobs (79% want AI support, versus 75% globally ), and a higher proportion would like AI to handle at least 25% of their job (55% vs 43% globally).
This faster uptake signals that manufacturing is embracing AI as a practical tool, not just a future promise.
Adoption starts with optimism
The sector’s quick adoption of AI could be due to attitude. Manufacturing frontline workers are simply more likely to see AI’s value in their daily work and less likely to reject AI outright. According to UKG’s study, manufacturing employees are more likely to say they understand the value of AI (61% disagree with “I don’t understand the value of AI,” compared to 58% globally).
Manufacturing employees are also more optimistic about AI’s impact on customer experience: 48% believe AI will have a positive impact, compared to just 40% globally.
It all comes down to a pervasive perspective: manufacturing leaders focus on how AI can support, not supplant, their workforce.
But this isn’t blind optimism towards AI. The manufacturing sector is being pragmatic. While concerns exist — 52% of those surveyed say their employees view AI as a threat to jobs — this is balanced by the fact that 79% believe it’s positively impacting their bottom line today.
Manufacturing employees trust technology — and they want more
What’s driving manufacturing’s optimism towards AI? They trust it. The UKG study uncovered that, when it comes to HR tasks, manufacturing workers consistently show greater trust in AI than their global peers. For example, 82% would trust AI to recommend work schedules (vs 80% globally), and similar levels of trust are seen for verifying pay, updating skills, and recommending training opportunities. This trust is a foundation for successful AI integration.
Beyond trust, manufacturing employees are willingly embracing digital transformation. More often than other sectors, they say technology enhances their work experience and 75% would use their own devices for work if allowed — a sign of readiness.
Prioritisation pays off
While a willing and able frontline workforce is key, AI adoption starts at the top. Generative AI is now a strategic priority for manufacturing leaders. The UKG survey shows that generative AI is ranked among the top five priorities for 47% of manufacturing leaders, just behind employee safety, recruitment, and supply chain strength.
What’s more, AI skills are now among the top five skills manufacturing employees say they need to perform better in their roles (31%), alongside technical, leadership, and communication skills. Together, these points mark a shift from AI as a future trend to a right-now strategic initiative.
Your next steps as a manufacturing operations executive
Accelerating AI adoption improves both productivity and employee experience, but the process can feel like a gargantuan undertaking. By breaking it down into the following objectives, manufacturing operations executives can act more swiftly.
- Align AI with business goals: Focus AI initiatives on clear operational outcomes that matter most to your business.
- Integrate AI into daily workflows: Embed AI tools into existing workforce processes to ensure adoption and immediate impact.
- Invest in data and skills: Strengthen your data infrastructure and provide employees with training to leverage AI insights.
- Empower employees: Foster a culture of transparency, continuous learning, and support for AI-driven change.
- Measure and communicate impact: Track key performance indicators and share successes to build momentum and buy-in.
- Encourage cross-functional collaboration: Break down silos between operations, HR, IT, and other departments to maximise AI’s value.
- Prioritise employee experience: Use AI to automate repetitive tasks, optimise schedules, and enhance workplace flexibility and safety.
- Scale and celebrate success: Expand successful pilots across the organisation and recognise teams that drive measurable improvements.
Manufacturing is all-in on AI
The data is clear: manufacturing’s frontline workforce isn’t just adapting to AI, they’re embracing it, trusting it, and demanding more of it. While challenges like burnout and job security remain, the sector’s optimism and strategic focus on AI set it apart — and set it ahead.
Want to learn more?
Read the full UKG global study report here.
Author: Neil Pickering, Director, HR Innovation at UKG
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