2024 EMEA Manufacturing Survey Report

Senior manufacturing leaders play a more pivotal role than ever in today’s fast-moving and ambiguous business landscape. They find themselves helping to meet margin objectives to contribute to corporate success, navigating the dynamic supply chain disruptions of the modern world, and driving the digitalisation agenda. This report reveals the results of an EMEA-wide survey conducted with senior manufacturing leaders. In the survey, we examined their priorities, the pressing challenges confronting them, and the difficulties they face in overcoming these challenges.

Focus Areas for Senior Manufacturing Leaders

The survey results reveal that growth and cost reduction have emerged as the primary focus areas for senior manufacturing leaders. This is a sign of a strategic shift towards enhancing market presence and profitability. Interestingly, sustainability and supply chain resilience have taken a backseat, suggesting that sustainability initiatives might be driven more by regulatory compliance than by a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship. This underscores the pressing need for businesses to balance growth and financial goals with the market’s sustainability expectations.

Barriers to Growth and Cost Reduction

A significant barrier to achieving the desired growth and cost reduction is the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in operational processes. Many respondents acknowledge these challenges and plan to invest in digitisation as a solution. This investment in digital transformation aims to streamline operations, elevate data-driven decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency, thereby supporting the broader goals of growth and cost reduction.

Skilled Labour Shortage

Another persistent challenge noted by respondents is the shortage of skilled labour, particularly at the engineer, managerial and executive levels. This issue is compounded by technological advancements and an ageing workforce, which are expected to exacerbate the skills gap. Addressing the shortage of skilled labour is crucial if companies are to implement their growth and digitisation strategies successfully.