MISUMI is excited to partner with Fictiv to present to you the 2026 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report. This report delivers data-driven insights into today’s supply chain shifts, how teams are adapting, and what manufacturing leaders must do to stay ahead.
Our partners at Fictiv went the extra mile to collect insights from 300 engineers, operations leaders, and supply chain decision makers to deliver their 11th annual report. The findings capture invaluable insights about the industry’s current turning point to help you make better decisions this year.
The report is for:
- Engineers who spend too much time on procurement
- Sourcing teams dealing with rising complexity
- Leaders under pressure to deliver speed and quality
The report will be released February 23rd, 2026. Here’s a sneak peak:
- 97% of respondents say digital manufacturing platforms are essential for production. More digital manufacturing platforms are emerging to support the modern supply chain, enabling teams to coordinate sourcing, production, quality, and compliance at scale
- 95% believe AI is now a requirement for future success. AI and automation are being deployed to address workforce shortages, accelerate decision-making, and reduce friction across workflows, while still relying on specialized engineering and sourcing knowledge where it matters most.
- 83% of engineers report spending four or more hours per week on procurement-related tasks. That’s time that could be spent on design and innovation! Unfortunately, the reality is that supplier sourcing has become extremely complex and resource-intensive.
Based on the findings, it’s clear that a competitive advantage in manufacturing is defined by speed, predictability, transparency, and resilience. The organizations pulling ahead are those focusing on quality in their operations, leveraging AI, and adopting digital platforms to unify sourcing and production.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mech Lab to be one of the first to get access to the 2026 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report.
For more information about Fictiv, visit fictiv.com.
Fictiv and MISUMI officially joined forces in 2025 when MISUMI Group Inc. acquired Fictiv in April 2025 and completed on June 17, 2025, creating a unified global manufacturing platform that blends Fictiv’s AI-enabled digital supply chain technology with MISUMI’s extensive catalog and logistics infrastructure. Last month, co-founder of Fictiv, Dave Evans, was appointed President & CEO of MISUMI Americas.
