IFS survey finds frontline teams lead industrial AI adoption

Oct 14, 2026
An IFS survey of more than 2,200 senior decision makers finds that frontline industrial teams are adopting AI faster than formal governance and safety controls are being established.

IFS says in a press release that frontline industrial teams are adopting AI faster than their organizations are establishing governance and data controls. Its Industrial Index 2026 surveyed more than 2,200 senior decision makers across 14 countries.

Respondents reported gains of 93% in first time right performance, 90% in asset availability, and 88% in adherence to delivery schedules. Respondents also reported saving more than 50% of employee time in workflows such as production throughput and quality assurance.

Over the previous 12 months, 43% of respondents had trained and introduced agentic digital workers into daily operations. Another 37% had trained colleagues to use industrial AI tools, while 36% had trained staff to work with digital workers.

Governance controls remained limited. Only 11% had validated AI outputs for safety, quality, or mission critical processes, and the same share had controls for sensitive or export controlled data. Mandatory human review for decisions supported by AI was in place at 4% of surveyed organizations.

IFS sells industrial AI and enterprise software, and the gains are self reported by survey respondents.

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