Lights-out manufacturing is getting a lot of buzz. In fact, factories in China are literally going lights-out. This means human involvement in the manufacturing process is either minimal or nonexistent, making lights unnecessary. Human workers can turn the lights off behind them, and production continues, unhindered. And Plant Engineering‘s research shows there’s a hearty appetite for robotics, automation and artificial intelligence from U.S. manufacturers. The manufacturers we surveyed in our 2026 State of Manufacturing Operations & Maintenance Study said they’re looking to make investments in all of these technologies. Almost 80% of the manufacturing leaders we surveyed said they intend to invest in these automation-related technologies in the coming year. About 39% said they plan to invest in robotics and automation in 2026 as a way to improve operational efficiency. Another 39% said they’ll invest in AI. And interest in AI as an investment has spiked from 2025. Only 28% said they had plans to invest in AI in 2025. China’s robotics gamble Making those investments in robotics and automation is a first step. But the U.S. is already trailing behind other countries when it comes to entrusting their manufacturing to machines. China installed 276,000 industrial robots at plants in 2023, more than all other countries combined. During the same period, American manufacturers installed 38,000 industrial robots. When you consider a total of 540,000 new industrial robots were installed in 2023, China’s share of that is astronomical. Phasing in automation For American manufacturers, a phased approach is likely the best…
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