Survey
Parsec’s 2024 State of Manufacturing Survey: Europe
This survey of 600 European manufacturing leaders highlights supply chain pressures, digitalization progress, and the growing importance of MES and AI readiness in 2024.
What's Inside
Supply chain volatility intensifies, with nearly 70% calling disruptions highly challenging.
Skills shortages stall modernization, especially in QA, engineering, and technical roles.
Digitalization and AI adoption accelerate, with strong reported outcomes among early adopters.
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Key Findings at a Glance
69%
Call supply chain issues very or extremely challenging
54%
Say quality assurance roles are the hardest to fill
85%
Of those who completed digitalization rate results good or excellent
92%
Say AI capabilities matter in enterprise software like MES and ERP
Parsec 2024 State of Manufacturing Survey: Europe, 600 respondents
What did 600 European manufacturers say about their biggest challenges in 2024?
Supply chains topped the list: 69% called supply chain issues very or extremely challenging. Skills gaps followed, with quality assurance roles hardest to fill (54%) and 34% saying a lack of skilled talent blocks AI adoption. Digitalization is moving: 19% have finished, half are implementing, and 85% of those who finished rate the results good or excellent.
The 2024 State of Manufacturing Survey – Europe captures insights from 600 manufacturing professionals across the region, revealing an industry balancing rising operational risks with accelerating digital transformation. Supply chain volatility continues to dominate concerns, with 69% of respondents describing supply chain issues as “very” or “extremely” challenging, driven by economic pressures, visibility gaps, cybersecurity threats, and extreme weather.
Labor shortages further complicate progress: quality assurance roles (54%) and engineering positions (47%) are the hardest to fill, and evolving technology demands require new skills across the workforce. These gaps directly impact the industry’s ability to adopt AI, with 34% citing lack of skilled talent as a barrier.
Digitalization, however, is gaining momentum. While only 19% have fully completed their initiatives, half are actively implementing strategies—and 85% of those who have completed digitalization rate their results as “good” or “excellent.” AI adoption is also accelerating, with 92% stating it is important for enterprise software like MES and ERP to offer AI capabilities.
MES plays a pivotal role throughout the findings. Although just 44% currently use MES, organizations that integrate MES and ERP report significant gains in visibility, planning, efficiency, and supply chain resilience.
Read the full findings.
About
Publisher
Parsec
Type
Survey
Published
November 26, 2024
Format
Pages
35
Respondents
600
Region
Europe
