Amidst geopolitical uncertainty and relentless pressure on supply chains, Asia's manufacturing sector is turning to technology to stay competitive, with 94% of leaders planning to invest in AI. But what are the real-world use cases, and what are the biggest hurdles to successful adoption?

Marcelo Tarkieltaub, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Rockwell Automation, joins us to dissect the findings from their 2025 "State of Smart Manufacturing" report. He discusses the skills gap, the challenge of legacy infrastructure, and Asia Pacific's unique "pragmatic" and efficiency-driven approach to AI.

We discuss:

• The key use cases for AI in manufacturing (quality, efficiency, and cybersecurity).

• The biggest challenges to adoption: the skills gap and legacy systems.

• Why APAC's adoption strategy is more "pragmatic" than other regions.

• The mindset shift: viewing sustainability as a key driver of efficiency.

• Practical first steps for SMEs to begin their smart manufacturing journey.