Manufacturing companies will have to dig deep to find the strategic resilience required to meet the challenges of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty they will continue to face.
Frank Jungblut Head of Manufacturing
C-suite barometer: manufacturing sector view
16 June 2025
As global uncertainty reshapes the industrial landscape, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to adapt and compete. Yet many leaders remain confident in their growth ambitions. In this shifting environment, strategic agility is becoming a vital asset. Drawing on perspectives from executives in more than 35 countries, this report explores how manufacturing leaders are responding to change and where they are uncovering new opportunities for growth.
Featuring commentary from our Forvis Mazars experts, alongside insights from Hui Zhang, Vice President of NIO Europe and Desislav Dimitrov, Chief Financial Officer at Autins Group, this report provides strategic perspectives into the priorities shaping boardroom conversations across the manufacturing sector.
Key findings
- Only roughly a third (36%) of leaders in the sector are “very confident” they can manage key trends in 2025 which is down by four points from last year.
- Confidence in industry shifts amongst executives is most prominent in new models of work (94%), emergence of new technologies (90%) and public health challenges (92%).
- Economic uncertainty (41%) and energy prices and/or shortages (36%) are listed as the top factors holding back growth for C-suite executives.
Looking ahead, manufacturing leaders will be focusing on transforming company IT, a new or revised talent attraction/retention strategy and restructuring and cost reduction as critical strategic priorities for the next five years.
Explore the full findings and discover how sector leaders are preparing for growth in a complex and competitive environment.
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