Advanced Engineering, the UK’s annual gathering for the engineering and manufacturing sectors, has launched a new report to provide a timely “AI reality check” for the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sectors. Authored by leading industry experts, the report will be unveiled on the main stage at this year’s show, taking place on 29–30 October 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham, and cuts through the hype and reveals where adoption is really happening and where barriers remain.
Titled ‘AI Reality Check: The True Impact of AI in Manufacturing and Engineering,’ the report brings together perspectives from leading voices across industry, academia and government. Contributors include experts from Atlas Copco, GTMA, Innovation DB, Made Smarter, The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Prospecthire and the University of Sheffield’s AMRC.
The findings highlight both the promise and the pitfalls of AI adoption. From predictive maintenance and quality control to supply chain resilience and energy efficiency, AI is already delivering measurable benefits. Yet the report is clear that AI is no silver bullet. Without the right skills, cultural readiness and ethical safeguards in place, even the most advanced tools can only go so far.
Alongside the launch, the show will also host a panel discussion titled “AI’s growing influence in manufacturing and engineering: report launch”. Chaired by Jon Excell, Editor of The Engineer, the session will take place on Thursday 30 October at 13:30 on the Main Stage and will feature three contributors to this year’s report.
Speakers will include Gerald Law, Chief Executive of Innovation DB, who brings deep experience in start-ups, investment and innovation ecosystems, Dr Nandini Chakravorti CEng MIET, Director of the Digital Engineering Group at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), whose work focuses on accelerating the adoption of digital technologies within UK supply chains and James McAllister, the General Manager of Atlas Copco Tools & Industrial Assembly Solutions in the UK and Ireland.
“AI isn’t a buzzword anymore, it’s here and it’s changing how things get made, but the real story is more complex than the headlines,” said Simon Farnfield, Event Director at Easyfairs, organiser of Advanced Engineering. “Adoption is uneven, skills gaps are widening and companies are still working out how to get from pilots to scalable impact.
“In fact, there’s a consensus that many don’t really understand what AI is and how it can support their operations and workforce. Therefore, this report is about separating ambition from reality, so the industry can take the next steps with clarity and confidence.”
Among the biggest challenges is the widening skills gap. Manufacturers are not only competing with each other, but also with sectors such as finance and tech for data scientists, machine learning specialists and integration experts.
Without a steady pipeline of trained people, contributors warn that progress could stall. Several call for earlier education in coding and data science, alongside stronger collaboration between industry, apprenticeships and higher education.
The report also tackles ethical concerns, regulatory uncertainty and environmental considerations. It urges businesses to see AI not as a plug-and-play product, but as a tool to be carefully integrated into operations, supported by human oversight and a culture of continuous learning.
The ‘AI Reality Check’ report is available now via the Advanced Engineering UK website, with the full findings set to be discussed live at the show this October. With free visitor registration now open, secure your place at Advanced Engineering UK to join the live discussion and register today at advancedengineeringuk.com.
