Predictive Maintenance Adoption More Than Doubles as UK Manufacturers Prioritise Digital Maturity

  Posted by: electime      7th May 2026

Parker Burke

Fluke Corporation today released survey findings revealing a significant acceleration in digital maturity across manufacturing, propelled by a YoY increase in predictive maintenance adoption. Rising investment in Generative AI (38%) and Industrial AI (34%) underscores this transition, as organisations move beyond pilot programmes toward production-scale impact.

The research, conducted by Censuswide, surveyed over 600 senior decision-makers and maintenance professionals in the US, the UK, and Germany. Among UK respondents, reactive maintenance dropped significantly year on year from 42% to 26%. Proactive maintenance increased slightly from 48% to 50%, while predictive maintenance more than doubled from 9% to 22%.

The research indicates this transition is being reinforced by increased capital allocation. Over the next 12 months, manufacturers are prioritising technologies that deliver measurable operational impact quickly. The data shows a clear shift toward pragmatic investment: nearly three-quarters (71%) of organisations now allocate 16-30% of their maintenance budgets to new technologies, with investment moving away from exploratory AI (53% in 2024) toward operational priorities including Generative AI (38%), cybersecurity (37%), Industrial AI (34%), and data management (32%).

However, the data also shows a growing disconnect between technology adoption and workforce readiness. The results point to a deeper issue, with skills-related challenges accounting for approximately 77% of all reported obstacles, including knowledge shortages (23%), broad workforce skills shortages (19%), lack of expertise (18%), and skilled labour gaps (17%).

As manufacturers move from experimentation in new technologies to execution, respondents show that expectations around Industry 5.0 are resetting accordingly. Confidence in near-term achievement has declined, with the share expecting completion within six months falling from 31% to 20%, while 37% now anticipate a one- to four-year timeline.

Instead, the data suggests manufacturers are concentrating on what is achievable now. Nearly half of respondents (45%) plan to advance connected reliability initiatives within the next 12 months; signalling reliability as the practical bridge between near-term operational needs and longer-term Industry 5.0 ambitions.

Parker Burke, President of Fluke Corporation, said: “Manufacturers are continuing to invest in digital technologies, but progress depends on how effectively those technologies are applied. Our findings show that reliability and workforce skills are now the critical factors in converting technology spend into measurable operational improvement. We need a solution to the skills shortage to supplement technology investment for the best results.”

Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer, Fluke Corporation, added: “The progress is encouraging, but it’s not enough yet. Predictive maintenance is no longer a future ambition: it is the baseline. Manufacturers’ next challenge is scaling adoption and integrating it across the organisation, ensuring these capabilities work in harmony across the organisation, not in isolation.”