Asia-Pacific manufacturers are rapidly moving from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment, with significant advances in autonomous operations and cybersecurity, signalling a new era of manufacturing resilience and sustainability.
According to the latest State of Smart Manufacturing (SOSM) report, fielded in March 2025, Asia‑Pacific has moved from AI experimentation to scaled deployment across manufacturing operations, with nearly half of regional respondents already scaling AI to address workforce gaps, cybersecurity and sustainability targets. The 10th‑edition Rockwell Automation study surveyed more than 1,500 manufacturing decision‑makers across 17 countries and shows generative and causal AI investment in APAC rose about 10 percentage points year‑on‑year.
Regional momentum is evident in use cases that go beyond predictive maintenance: manufacturers increasingly apply AI to quality assurance, adaptive control and other autonomous operations that reduce human error and speed real‑time decision‑making. Industry data also indicate accelerating GenAI adoption at the employee level across APAC, though uptake and attitudes vary sharply by market , for example, recent surveys show India with very high adoption while Japan trails many peers.citeturn5search0turn4search0
Cybersecurity has emerged as a top external concern for APAC manufacturers alongside inflation and energy costs, prompting investment in secure‑by‑design architectures and real‑time threat detection. The Rockwell report notes firms are prioritising cyber skills in hiring and upskilling; Rockwell itself has expanded threat intelligence and detection services to help customers align with evolving frameworks and standards.citeturn5search0
The workforce picture is mixed but improving: the SOSM finds the regional skills gap narrowed slightly between 2024 and 2025, with 29% of APAC respondents in 2025 citing skills shortages versus 31% the prior year, suggesting that targeted talent development and upskilling programmes are beginning to show returns. Manufacturers say they plan to repurpose and grow headcount in response to smart technology adoption, emphasising analytical and systems skills to capture AI’s value.citeturn5search0turn7search0
Private and public investment is reinforcing capability build‑out across the region. China’s heavy state support for humanoid robotics and large funding pools are accelerating robot training and factory deployment, while market studies estimate the APAC AI market reached substantial scale in 2025, driven by both enterprise and consumer adoption. These capital flows and policy incentives are shortening commercialisation cycles for robotics, GenAI and edge‑AI applications in factories.citeturn3search0turn6search0
There are contrasting national strengths. The UK, for example, outperforms many peers in Europe on factory‑floor AI adoption and planning , driven by strong start‑up ecosystems, systems integrators and focused workforce upskilling , illustrating that leadership can come from both high‑volume manufacturing hubs and digitally advanced smaller economies. Such differences underscore that regional leadership in APAC is not uniform and will depend on local talent, funding and regulatory environments.citeturn2search0turn4search0
Scott Wooldridge, regional vice‑president, Asia Pacific at Rockwell Automation, framed the trend as an opportunity to reframe the human‑technology partnership: “What pleased me was seeing that it’s here in the Asia Pacific region where AI is already driving the highest returns on investment for manufacturers.” He added that many APAC firms view AI as an enabler rather than a replacement, with plans to introduce AI/ML to address workforce shortages and skill gaps.citeturn7search0turn5search0
For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the implications are practical: scaled AI and automation can materially reduce energy intensity through process optimisation, predictive control and waste reduction, while secure‑by‑design deployments protect the operational continuity needed to sustain long‑term efficiency gains. The opportunity for APAC manufacturers to lead the next era of global industry will hinge on continued investment in talent, interoperable secure systems and policies that align incentives for sustainable, resilient production.citeturn5search0turn6search0
- https://www.eletimes.ai/asia-pacific-takes-the-lead-in-ai-adoption-across-manufacturing – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/how-the-uk-leading-europe-ai-driven-manufacturing – The UK is emerging as a leader in AI-driven manufacturing in Europe, surpassing global averages in the adoption and planning of smart manufacturing technologies. According to a 2025 Rockwell Automation report, 53% of UK manufacturers use AI on the factory floor, with 98% planning implementation—outperforming global averages of 41% and 95%, respectively. Key drivers include computer vision for quality control and predictive maintenance, which have significantly reduced defects and operational costs. The UK’s strength lies in its robust ecosystem of startups, integrators, institutional funding, and workforce upskilling strategies.
- https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-ai-powered-humanoid-robots-aim-transform-manufacturing-2025-05-13/ – China is accelerating the development and deployment of AI-powered humanoid robots to revolutionize manufacturing and address key national challenges such as a shrinking workforce, trade tensions, and economic slowdowns. Startups like AgiBot and MagicLab are training robots using extensive task-based data at specially set up government-backed sites. These robots are increasingly agile and capable of tasks like folding laundry, food preparation, and factory assembly. With over $20 billion already invested and further funding programs underway, Beijing is providing heavy subsidies, free office space, and procurement incentives to humanoid robotics firms.
- https://www.bcg.com/press/30october2025-asia-pacific-leads-ai-adoption – Employees in Asia Pacific are adopting generative AI (GenAI) tools faster and more enthusiastically than their global peers, but they are also more likely to fear that these technologies could put their jobs at risk. These findings come from a new Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report, AI at Work: Is Asia Pacific Leading the Way?, based on a July 2025 survey of over 4,500 employees across nine APAC markets and a global control group. Adoption and attitudes toward AI vary sharply across countries. India leads the region with a 92% adoption rate, while Japan lags at just 51%. Optimism about AI is highest in China (70%), Malaysia (68%), and Indonesia (69%), compared to only 46% in Japan.
- https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-sg/company/news/press-releases/apac-sosm-2025.html – Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, announced the results of the 10th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report.” The global study, fielded in March 2025, surveyed more than 1,500 manufacturers across 17 of the leading manufacturing countries, including China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. As manufacturers continue to face uncertainty driven by economic shifts, the report highlights how companies are turning to smart manufacturing technologies to manage risks, improve performance, and support their workforce. It also examines adoption of emerging technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud-based systems.
- https://www.kenresearch.com/industry-reports/asia-pacific-artificial-intelligence-market – The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is rapidly becoming one of the most dynamic markets for artificial intelligence (AI). Accelerating investments, growing consumer and enterprise adoption, and evolving public attitudes are together shaping how AI technologies are deployed and accepted across the region. In 2025, the artificial intelligence market in APAC was projected to be worth approximately 85 billion U.S. dollars, while APAC’s Generative AI (GenAI) market was predicted to generate around 16.3 billion U.S. dollars. AI usage among the public in APAC is growing significantly. A 2025 global survey revealed that emerging markets generally report more widespread AI use than their developed counterparts. India and China are among global leaders, with nearly 90 percent of respondents regularly using AI tools.
- https://www.industry-asia-pacific.com/news/79026-rockwell-new-study-finds-genai-as-top-tech-investment-for-manufacturers-globally%2C-40-of-apac-manufacturers-use-technology-to-create-more-engaging-jobs – It was no surprise to see AI shoot into the top technology consideration spot in this year’s report,” said Scott Wooldridge, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation. “What pleased me was seeing that it’s here in the Asia Pacific region where AI is already driving the highest returns on investment for manufacturers. More than 44% of Asian manufacturers plan to introduce AI/ML to address workforce shortages and skill gaps in the near future. There is an opportunity for Asia to lead in reframing the human-technology partnership where technology is seen as an enabler, and not a replacement, for more productive and sustainable business outcomes. Key global findings include: AI ranks as the top capability that manufacturers believe will drive the biggest business outcomes. 83% of manufacturers expect to use generative AI (GenAI) in their operations in 2024. 95% of manufacturers are using or evaluating smart manufacturing technology – up from 84% in 2023. 94% of manufacturers plan to maintain or grow their workforce due to smart manufacturing technology adoption, with a heavy focus on repurposing workers to new or different roles and/or hiring more workers.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is based on the latest State of Smart Manufacturing (SOSM) report, fielded in March 2025, indicating high freshness. The report was published in June 2025, and the article was published on December 3, 2025, suggesting timely reporting. ([rockwellautomation.com](https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-sg/company/news/press-releases/apac-sosm-2025.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Scott Wooldridge and Blake Moret are unique to this report and do not appear in earlier material, indicating originality. The earliest known usage of these quotes is in the June 2025 press release. ([rockwellautomation.com](https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-sg/company/news/press-releases/apac-sosm-2025.html?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Rockwell Automation, a reputable organisation in industrial automation and digital transformation, enhancing the credibility of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about AI adoption in the Asia-Pacific manufacturing sector are consistent with the findings of the SOSM report. The report indicates that 94% of APAC manufacturers have invested in or plan to invest in AI/ML and Generative or Causal AI over the next five years. ([rockwellautomation.com](https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-sg/company/news/press-releases/apac-sosm-2025.html?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on the latest SOSM report, published in June 2025, indicating high freshness. The direct quotes from Scott Wooldridge and Blake Moret are unique to this report and do not appear in earlier material, indicating originality. The narrative originates from Rockwell Automation, a reputable organisation, enhancing the credibility of the information presented. The claims about AI adoption in the Asia-Pacific manufacturing sector are consistent with the findings of the SOSM report, indicating plausibility. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with high confidence.
