Manufacturers are exploring artificial intelligence, but most are still struggling to scale it across operations. According to the latest Sikich Manufacturing Industry Pulse survey, 92% of manufacturers are actively exploring AI. Yet roughly three-quarters of respondents remain in research or pilot phases rather than deploying it in operations.

The National Association of Manufacturers reports that 51% of manufacturers already use AI somewhere in operations, and McKinsey estimates that only about a third of organizations have begun scaling AI at all. The funnel is remarkably consistent throughout industry: broad exploration, far narrower production.

 …