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Turning data into value
Manufacturing’ s AI ambitions confront the reality of data and organizational change
The manufacturing industry has no shortage of ambition when it comes to artificial intelligence. Across factories and industrial organizations, companies are exploring how advanced analytics, automation, and increasingly sophisticated AI systems could improve productivity, strengthen resilience, and transform operational decisionmaking. Yet the challenge of turning that ambition into measurable business value remains considerably more complicated than deploying the technology itself.
That tension provided a central theme for the 2nd annual Manufacturing Data Summit( MDS), held in London on October
6, 2026. Bringing together manufacturing leaders, data specialists, and technology experts, the event examined the practical realities of industrial digital transformation, from establishing reliable data foundations to addressing cybersecurity, organizational accountability, and the difficulties of scaling AI beyond isolated applications. The event also hosted a successful Women in Manufacturing Breakfast which brought together women from across manufacturing, technology, research, skills, and industry bodies to discuss how the sector can attract, retain, and develop the next generation of female leaders.
Organized by Manufacturing Today, the summit brought together perspectives from
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