The top 10 trends in manufacturing automation in 2026

Production automation is one of the major trends in industry today. The benefits are clear – increased efficiency, process stability, and predictability. Automation itself is further subdivided into a number of different trends, such as AI, digital transformation, and the concept of “digital twins.” To reap the most benefits, it’s worth ensuring proper preparation and knowledge of current changes.

Why is automation changing faster and faster in 2026?

Recent years have seen significant changes in industrial companies’ approaches to implementing automation. Limited, “island-based” implementations are becoming increasingly rare. Instead, plants are focusing on models that can be scaled across their entire production. The possibilities are growing, with AI leading the way, especially in the areas of industrial artificial intelligence and edge AI. However, these are not the only important trends. Which ones are worth implementing? The answer to this question depends on the plant’s needs. Nevertheless, it’s important to emphasize that digital transformation is no longer optional. It’s a necessity to maintain a competitive advantage. However, to reap the greatest benefits, it’s necessary to consider not only the mere presence of technology but also its impact on operating results.

1. AI enters specific production

As in many other industries, the strongest trend in automation is currently AI. Artificial intelligence in this area is gradually maturing, as are its applications. Implementation plans are no longer focused on whether AI has potential, but on where it can actually shorten response times, improve quality, and support operators. According to estimates from companies like Rockwell, the share of AI-enabled operations in industry is expected to grow from 34% to 54% by 2030.

How does the use of AI translate into maintenance? It’s a tool that’s particularly well-suited to tasks requiring data analysis. Maintenance, in turn, is an area that provides a vast amount of information for analysis. In practice, this means the ability to streamline predictive maintenance processes, detect anomalies, and analyze quality deviations. All of this contributes to faster and more reliable diagnostics.

2. Edge AI is playing an increasingly important role

Edge computing is a model in which computational tasks are performed “at the edge” of the network—i.e., not on an external cloud or servers from an external provider, but closer to the physical devices executing the process. This approach has particularly great potential when combined with AI. Moving intelligence to the network edge allows for a broader scope of applications and improved quality inspection, signal classification, and operator support. What else does edge AI offer? A significant advantage here is reduced latency. Data transfer always takes time—even if it’s measured in seconds or milliseconds—at a sufficiently large scale, the difference between edge AI and, for example, the cloud is noticeable. This leads to a growing number of companies opting for such solutions.

What are the benefits of edge AI? In manufacturing plants, these include greater control, lower latency, and improved resilience to connectivity outages. This, in turn, makes edge AI infrastructure one of the most practical areas for automation modernization in 2026.

3. Software-controlled automation

The third significant trend is the shift away from rigidly linking functions to specific hardware. Today, systems can be managed and developed via software. This is a priority for innovation for many companies. What are the benefits? Primarily, it provides greater flexibility in product changes and easier scalability of solutions between plants. Any process modifications become much easier because this allows the separation of the machine’s role in the process from its technical details.

4. Digital twins – a virtual copy of the plant

Although the concept of “digital twins” has been present in the industry for a long time, a clear upward trend has been observed in recent years. How does it work? The premise is simple: a plant is digitally mapped, usually using dedicated software. This provides a company with a secure environment for testing, simulation, and optimization. Changes within the “digital twin” have no impact on real production, yet they provide information that allows for determining the effect of actual changes. It’s much more than just a 3D model for engineers. Such systems are becoming more intelligent, connected, and autonomous, further streamlining change simulation and deviation analysis. It’s also important to ensure the model is updated with data in production – this can provide real support for quality and line availability.

5. Industrial DataOps and Data Integration

Production data can be a source of enormous added value. However, this requires the right approach. What are we talking about? Many plants face problems in this area – for example, excessive systems or lack of data consistency. This, in turn, leads to the emergence of further trends that impact automation. Industrial DataOps, among other areas, is becoming an important area. This concept focuses on the proper management of data within an organization, with an emphasis on the needs of industry.

Why is it worth considering? Above all, it’s a chance for a real competitive advantage. The ability to seamlessly connect data, without the need for manual transfer between systems, offers numerous benefits. This is crucial for overall equipment efficiency, prediction, and maintenance planning. In this area, it’s worth considering implementing a CMMS system, among other things – it provides a practical reference point for reports, fault information, and maintenance activity history.

6. Cybersecurity as part of the process

Another significant trend in automation is the growing role of cybersecurity. This is particularly important in strategic industrial sectors. This also involves moving security “closer” to machines – similar to edge computing. This reduces the potential attack surface, reducing the risk of failures caused by such actions. Segmentation, access control, anomaly monitoring, and regular updates ensure that resource protection functions as intended.

7. Collaborative Robotics and Physical AI

In this case, this is a trend that is still in its infancy, but it can already be observed. Physical AI (hardware with artificial intelligence capabilities), collaborative robots, and similar concepts are beginning to transcend the realm of demonstration implementations. Such solutions make systems more autonomous. This brings several important benefits to industry: greater flexibility and repeatability, while maintaining control over exceptions.

8. Industrial Communications

Communication infrastructure is also important. In this case, solutions are becoming simpler and more standardized. Examples include Single Pair Ethernet and Ethernet-APL. However, needs are growing in a slightly different area: plants no longer operate in closed systems, but instead connect different platforms responsible for servicing specific areas.

9. Employee competencies

Another key trend is the emphasis on different technician skills. Even with increasing automation, people who can handle such solutions are still needed. Therefore, a sensible combination of technology with a simple, consistent work model is crucial – with good procedures, rapid information flow, and access to failure history at the core.

10. Maintenance as part of the strategy

The tenth, and perhaps most important, trend is the changing role of maintenance. It’s much more than just a “repair department.” How does maintenance function today? This area should be at the heart of a plant’s operations. Modern maintenance combines service data, process quality, and planning—these are areas supported by various automation-related trends. A structured CMMS system offers many visible benefits for a plant. In particular, it’s important to emphasize the ability to make specific decisions based on real data, such as prioritizing inspections, replacing components, or adjusting schedules. The QRmaint system allows for increased management efficiency across various maintenance areas—please contact us for details.