Smart Manufacturing Week 2026: What we learnt

Smart Manufacturing Week was great; here’s some key insight we gathered from the event...

At Smart Manufacturing Week, we asked sales leaders a few simple questions about the market, the skills companies are chasing, and what is making hiring harder right now. Here’s what they had to say:

What’s the buzzword you keep hearing about?

AI is still dominating the conversation in smart manufacturing. Even when we asked people for a buzzword other than AI, many struggled to move away from it. But underneath the AI noise, there was a clear sense of buzzword fatigue.

Mark Ireland, Manufacturing Technical Director at Purple Sector, summed it up well: “Buzzwords tend to indicate a problem or a question, when what we really need to focus on are the solutions.”

That sentiment came through again and again. The conversation is no longer just about the latest technology label, it is about whether a solution improves performance, removes friction, connects properly with existing systems and helps teams do their jobs better.

Integration, standardisation, operational excellence and functionality were all raised as key themes. In short, companies do not just want more tools. They want technology that works in the real world.

What skill is everyone chasing right now?

The answer was not simply “technical ability”.

There are technically capable people out there. The harder skill to find is the ability to apply that knowledge to solve real business and operational problems.

Candidate agility was a prominent theme. Businesses are operating in a market shaped by Brexit, the pandemic, geopolitical uncertainty, regulation changes and rising cost pressures. They are running leaner, moving faster and asking people to wear multiple hats. As a result, they need people who can adapt quickly, stay curious and keep moving as priorities change.

Communication was another major topic. Several leaders pointed to a lack of confidence when speaking to people directly, especially on the phone. In an industry where commercial, technical and operational teams need to work closely together, interpersonal skills are becoming just as important as technical knowledge.

There was also concern that practical, hands-on experience is becoming harder to find. As fewer people come through traditional apprenticeship and trade routes, businesses are noticing a gap between theory and real-world application.

What’s the biggest challenge with hiring those skills, and what’s the biggest misconception?

One of the biggest challenges raised was the breadth of experience.

Some candidates have progressed quickly within one business or structured graduate scheme but have not always had the chance to work across different environments, markets or verticals. They may have strong skills, but employers are asking whether those skills can transfer.

AI has added another layer to the problem. Candidates can now produce polished CVs and applications in minutes, which makes it harder to tell who genuinely has the right experience and who simply looks good on paper.

That is why several leaders said employers need to get candidates on the phone earlier. A CV, job title or formal interview does not always tell you how someone thinks, how they communicate, how curious they are, or how they will operate day to day.

Titles were another misconception. A job title may show where someone has been, but it does not always show what they have done, how they have applied their skills, or whether they can succeed in a different environment.

One word to describe how you feel about the industry in 2026?

The answers included transitional, busy, uncertain, young, competitive and excited.

That feels like a fair summary. Smart manufacturing is moving quickly, but it is still maturing. There is uncertainty, but also momentum. There is competition, but also more collaboration, with companies recognising that no one business has all the answers.

Overall, the biggest takeaway was clear: the industry is becoming more practical.

The companies that succeed will not be the ones that talk best about transformation. They will be the ones who build teams who can adapt, communicate, solve problems and turn technology into outcomes.