“In this month’s survey, we asked a special question about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in electronics manufacturing,” noted Shawn DuBravac IPC chief economist. “Survey respondents indicated that AI is expected to be most useful for predictive maintenance, inventory management, quality control, supply chain management, and office support/activities over the next three years. However, fewer respondents believed AI would be useful for product development, lights-out facilities and sustainability.”
Additional survey data showed:
- Over the next six months, electronics manufacturers expect to see continued, albeit relatively stable, increase in both labour and material costs.
- While profit margins are expected to improve, backlogs and ease of recruitment are likely to remain challenging
- Backlogs are expected to rise more so among firms primarily operating in APAC, North America, and globally when compared to firms in Europe
- 76% of companies in Europe are currently experiencing rising labour costs
