Frontline Leaders Play a Key Role in Manufacturing AI Adoption

The following article was published on the news site of the Manufacturing Institute and is shared here for AOTC readers interested in the rapid deployment of AI technologies in the manufacturing space, which includes pulp, paper, tissue, and packaging.

A new survey published by PwC and the Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers—finds that artificial intelligence adoption in manufacturing can hinge on the attitudes and readiness of frontline manufacturing leaders. The third in a series of surveys about frontline leaders, PwC and the MI’s “Frontline Leadership in Manufacturing AI Adoption” surveyed over 100 manufacturing leaders across operations, human resources and executive roles in the third quarter of 2025 about AI adoption.

Among the survey’s key findings:

1. Rising frontline leader influence can outpace readiness to lead AI-driven change.
2. Uneven AI adoption can slow integration into daily operations.
3. Advancing along the AI adoption curve requires training and experiential capability building.
4. Human and system readiness gaps often constrain AI adoption.
5. Limited frontline leader input can constrain AI adoption and execution.

This survey marks the third and final installment in a series on frontline leadership. The 2024 survey found frontline leaders play a large role in employee retention and that addressing attrition and workforce shortages requires manufacturers to prioritize frontline employee experience. Last year’s survey reinforced that strengthening frontline leadership capability was essential to help improve that experience, and this year, as AI rapidly changes manufacturing, PwC and the MI found that frontline leaders can make a difference in how smoothly AI is deployed on shop floors.

According to the new survey data, nearly half (48 percent) of respondents rated their frontline leaders as very or extremely effective in shaping the experience of frontline workers. Yet that effectiveness has not translated to AI readiness. When asked about frontline leaders’ readiness to lead AI-driven change, 54 percent of respondents reported low or very low confidence. Manufacturers looking to deploy AI successfully should prioritize closing this gap.

both frontline leaders and frontline workers report being skeptical of AI—even as 50 percen express excitement. Frontline workers, however, have more reservations, with 62 percent viewed as skeptical and only 24 percent described as excited. That divergence can have long-term implications for AI adoption. Frontline leaders may be positioned to drive implementation, but sustained adoption often depends on the conviction of the workers responsible for day-to-day execution. Without alignment, momentum of AI adoption can stall as early curiosity does not translate into lasting adoption automatically.

Offering meaningful training and treating AI as a primary capability with demonstrable benefits can reduce skepticism and resistance to AI implementation. Another datapoint to support this: 45 percent of leaders attribute unsuccessful AI initiatives to excluding frontline leaders from the design or rollout process.

“As AI becomes more important to manufacturing, leaders need to offer additional training so that workers are equipped to utilize AI on the shop floor,” said Manufacturing Institute Chief Program Officer Gardner Carrick. “The survey shows manufacturing leaders the opportunities they have to get this right. Real training, upskilling and hands-on experience will demonstrate to employees the benefits that will come with proper AI integration.”

“AI adoption isn’t just a technology initiative; it’s a business initiative that has the power to transform the way people work,” said PwC US Energy & Industrials Leader Ryan Hawk. “The organizations that pull ahead will be the ones that find ways to be tech-driven and people-enabled, using AI to empower their employees to solve the biggest customer and business issues. Companies that find ways to continually evolve their ways of working will see AI help unlock tangible value, efficiency and effectiveness.”

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With more than 370,000 people in 149 countries, PwC provides professional services across Audit and Assurance, Advisory and Tax. We bring a range of capabilities to help organizations solve faster, achieve more and realize greater value.

The Manufacturing Institute is the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions to address the toughest workforce issues. For more information on the MI, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.