The Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity (WCMP) today released the printed 2024–2025 Wisconsin Manufacturing Report—based on 400 in-depth executive interviews and five statewide focus groups—offering a data-rich analysis and expert perspectives on the state’s manufacturing sector.
Key Takeaways:
- Workforce Shortages Remain the Largest Challenge: Manufacturers continue to grapple with attracting and retaining skilled workers, prompting top-tier investments in retention programs, training initiatives, and automation to improve capacity.
- AI & Cybersecurity Take Center Stage: A growing number of manufacturers are integrating AI into both administrative and production functions, while proactively enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect these investments.
- Corporate Optimism Amid Economic Uncertainty: Although overall confidence in Wisconsin’s economy has dipped, manufacturers remain highly optimistic about their own businesses—prioritizing efficiency, innovation, and resilience.
- Technology and Automation Fuel Growth: Automation is being widely implemented—especially by larger firms—to boost productivity and shift workers into higher-value roles. Smaller companies report financial barriers to adoption.
- Wisconsin’s Manufacturing Base Remains a Strategic Asset: With over $66 billion in annual output and nearly 480,000 workers, the state’s diversified manufacturing landscape ensures both stability and a competitive edge.
Expert Insights:
The report features four industry-leader perspectives:
- Kevin Kane, First Business Bank – Shares bank-level economic trends shaping manufacturing.
- WMEP Manufacturing Solutions – Offers strategies for merging productivity and workforce development.
- UW‑Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center – Details AI and advanced manufacturing integration.
- Justin Kerley, Top Floor Technologies – Provides marketing playbooks to drive customer-centric growth.
“By embracing new technologies, addressing labor constraints, and leveraging our state’s manufacturing strengths, Wisconsin can cement its leadership in domestic and global markets,” said Buckley Brinkman, WCMP Executive Director & CEO.
About WCMP:
The Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity is committed to strengthening the state’s manufacturing ecosystem through insight-driven research, expert guidance, and strategic partnerships. The report was produced in collaboration with WMEP Manufacturing Solutions, UW‑Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center, and the Wisconsin MEP Network, with sponsorship from First Business Bank and Top Floor Technologies.