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Manufacturing is at a point when traditional automation can no longer deliver a competitive advantage. Agentic operations for manufacturing companies is a way for them to move beyond rigid workflows and into systems capable of autonomous reasoning, decision‑making, and execution. We’re going to see a lot more transformations from reactive processes into dynamic, self‑optimizing operational ecosystems.
Manufacturing executives increasingly recognize that legacy automation models fall short of enterprise scale. In a 2025 Gartner survey, nearly half of manufacturing organizations reported they lack confidence in their future operational strategies, specifically citing a failure to redesign operations to support advanced automation and autonomous systems.
Especially in this evolving marketplace, manufacturers are faced with several challenges, including:
- Competitive pressure from digitally native and AI‑driven rivals
- Rising complexity in global supply chains
- Customer expectations for speed, quality, and customization
Agentic operations for manufacturing companies enable systems to anticipate, adapt, and act across production, supply chain, and service domains. And at the end of the day, this frees human teams to focus on analysis and strategic outcomes.
Related Article: The 4 Digital Transformation Trends Shaping Manufacturing in 2026
What does it mean to have agentic operations in manufacturing?
Agentic operations for manufacturing companies go far beyond traditional automation or scripted AI. At their core, they consist of autonomous systems that perceive context, make decisions, and take actions toward defined business goals. These systems work across data sources, tools, and workflows to execute complex, cross‑functional activities dynamically rather than responding only to pre‑programmed triggers.
Recent industry data underscores how rapidly this capability is moving from concept to operational reality. According to Gartner, by 2028, roughly 33% of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI capabilities, enabling around 15% of daily work decisions to be made autonomously.
Agentic operations for manufacturing companies are defined by three core attributes:
- Contextual awareness: Agents integrate information from ERP, MES, IoT sensors, and supply chain feeds in real time.
- Goal‑oriented decisioning: Rather than just alerting human operators, agentic systems choose courses of action aligned with business KPIs.
- Automated execution: AI agents take actions (such as adjusting production schedules or ordering materials) without manual intervention.
Supporting this shift, enterprise adoption trends show nearly 29% of organizations already deploying agentic AI, with another 44% planning adoption within the next year. This demonstrates significant momentum toward autonomous systems that do more than simple task programs.
Related Article: Creating an agentic enterprise around the CRM
So what is the difference between agentic operations and traditional automation? Traditional automation executes fixed workflows based on predefined rules. Agentic operations for manufacturing companies adapt to exceptions, optimize decisions, and execute across systems without predefined scripts.
In manufacturing, this means systems autonomously reschedule production, mitigate supply chain disruptions, and adjust processes to maintain throughput and quality in real time.
The advantages of agentic operations for manufacturing companies
Agentic operations for manufacturing companies deliver measurable outcomes across the production, supply chain, quality, and service lifecycle. By embedding autonomous agents into operations, manufacturers move from reactive decisions to proactive, self-optimizing workflows that improve performance and reduce risk.
Recent industry insights from a McKinsey report found that manufacturers deploying autonomous operational systems saw up to 20–30% improvements in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and 15–25% reductions in unplanned downtime within the first year. Some of the key areas of impact include:
- Production planning and scheduling: Dynamic demand sensing allows agentic systems to reschedule lines and resources in real time, reducing bottlenecks and optimizing throughput.
- Predictive maintenance: Autonomous monitoring and analysis of equipment data identifies potential failures before they occur, lowering downtime and maintenance costs.
- Quality and compliance: Agents continuously detect anomalies in production processes, ensuring consistent quality and adherence to regulatory standards.
- Supply chain optimization: Systems autonomously adjust orders, reroute shipments, and manage inventory buffers in response to disruptions or demand changes.
The result is a manufacturing environment where agentic operations for manufacturing companies drive faster, smarter decision-making and more resilient performance. By implementing agentic operations, manufacturers can transform operational intelligence into measurable business outcomes. Early adoption creates a foundation for agility and competitiveness in an increasingly automated industry.
Why more manufacturing companies are adopting agentic operations
Manufacturers that delay adopting agentic operations risk falling behind competitors who leverage autonomous systems for efficiency, quality, and resilience. Sticking with legacy automation and human-dependent workflows leaves operations more siloed and increasingly fragile in the face of global supply chain disruptions and market volatility.
Industry data reinforces this urgency. According to a 2024 Deloitte survey, 68% of manufacturing executives reported that delayed adoption of autonomous systems directly hindered operational agility, while 54% cited increased costs and inefficiencies from over-reliance on manual decision-making. Those who delay these implementations risk the following:
- Operational bottlenecks: Manual workflows can’t scale to complex, real-time decision requirements.
- Data silos: Fragmented systems prevent full visibility, slowing response times and reducing accuracy.
- Competitive disadvantage: Companies leveraging agentic operations reduce cycle times, lower costs, and improve quality—advantages laggards cannot match.
- Compliance and risk exposure: Manual processes are more prone to errors, audit gaps, and regulatory violations.
Related Article: How Agentforce will redefine enterprise execution
Agentic operations for manufacturing companies are a strategic necessity for survival and growth in the modern industrial landscape. Companies that fail to adopt autonomous, agentic systems will see productivity plateau while competitors accelerate. Early investment in agentic operations positions manufacturers to lead, rather than follow, in operational excellence.
How Agentforce bridges the gap across fragmented operations
Agentforce provides a turnkey platform for manufacturers to implement agentic operations at scale, turning the concept of autonomous workflows into practical, enterprise-ready reality. Built within Salesforce’s Data 360, Service Cloud, and Sales Cloud, Agentforce allows manufacturers to integrate operational, supply chain, and customer data into a unified, intelligent system that can reason, decide, and act autonomously across functions.
Unlike standalone AI tools or siloed automation, Agentforce embeds governance, security, and human oversight by design, ensuring that autonomous decisions align with corporate KPIs and compliance requirements. Manufacturers can deploy agents to optimize production schedules, manage predictive maintenance, adjust supply chain activities, or proactively resolve customer issues—all without rebuilding core systems from scratch.
Agentforce transforms agentic operations for manufacturing companies from theoretical strategy into actionable, measurable business outcomes. With a unified platform, manufacturers can scale autonomous workflows across production, supply chain, quality, and service, realizing both agility and resilience in a competitive industrial landscape.
Partner with TELUS Digital to establish agentic operations
Agentic operations for manufacturing companies are becoming the operational standard for organizations seeking speed, resilience, and competitive advantage. By embedding autonomous, goal-driven systems into production, supply chain, quality, and service workflows, manufacturers can move from reactive processes to proactive, self-optimizing operations.
Our team of experts brings the skill and experience to help manufacturers implement Agentforce at scale, translating strategy into measurable outcomes. From designing intelligent agents to integrating ERP, MES, and IoT data streams, we ensure that agentic operations deliver tangible efficiency, productivity, and quality improvements across the enterprise.
Partner with TELUS Digital to deploy Agentforce and transform your manufacturing operations into an agile, autonomous, and future-ready enterprise. Leverage agentic operations for manufacturing companies today to gain a strategic edge and drive lasting operational impact.
