By Richard 
From predictive maintenance to quality control and beyond, AI is enabling manufacturers to achieve new levels of efficiency every single day— reaching sustainability goals too. When we recap 2024 in manufacturing we start to wonder, what could possibly be next in the realm of technology capabilities? While I don’t have a crystal ball, Tim Long, global head of manufacturing at Snowflake, lent me 3 predictions he has about the state of the industry and the use of AI in 2025:
Prediction 1: AI will drive improvements in manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.
“By 2025, manufacturers will increasingly use AI to boost efficiency and sustainability — addressing the longstanding challenges of improving shop floor productivity while reducing carbon footprints. This transformation isn’t just about being environmentally friendly, it’s about staying competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. AI-powered systems can optimize energy consumption at various levels, from individual machine operations to entire production lines,” says Long. “We could see AI analyzing energy usage patterns, predicting peaks and troughs, and automatically adjusting processes to minimize waste. This ongoing shift will be driven by a combination of regulatory pressures, evolving customer expectations, and heightened shareholder expectations. Companies that successfully incorporate AI into their sustainability strategies will not only reduce their environmental impact but also reduce costs to gain a competitive advantage.”
Prediction 2: Vision AI will significantly enhance quality control processes.
Looking to 2025 and beyond, Long explains that AI vision models will transform quality control processes in manufacturing, reducing the reliance on traditional manual inspection methods.
“These AI systems will not only aid in product quality improvement but also accelerate production by eliminating bottlenecks associated with manual inspection. Imagine a production line where every product is inspected in milliseconds with a high degree of accuracy and consistency. This is the not-so-distant future, freeing up production workers to focus on higher-level tasks such as root cause analysis or process improvement. Early adopters will see substantial gains in both product quality and production speed,” says Long.
Prediction 3: Customized, manufacturing-specific AI solutions will outperform generic options.
The new year could see a growing distinction between manufacturers relying on off-the-shelf AI solutions and those leveraging specialized models. According to Long, these custom AI systems can be trained on manufacturing-specific data, allowing them to better understand the nuanced processes of individual organizations. “From supply chain risk assessment to predictive maintenance and design optimization, these customized AI solutions will deliver significantly higher ROI compared to one-size-fits-all approaches. These tailored AI solutions and the companies that invest in them have the potential to redefine standards for efficiency and innovation,” details Long.
Technology continues to propel this sector into more efficient operations, but success requires an investment in AI and a firm commitment to upskilling the workforce. By navigating these challenges with such understanding, manufacturers can shape their own predictions through an informed lens that takes them to new heights next year.