Chicago – October 19, 2026 -- Twenty-nine percent of U.S. consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers say AI is embedded end to end in core operations, more than double the 13% global figure, according to new Schneider Electric data released at PACK EXPO International 2026.
U.S. manufacturers deploy AI across sites at nearly twice the global rate
The figures supplement Schneider Electric's earlier global report, "Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Competitive Consumer Goods Manufacturing," which surveyed more than 1,400 executives worldwide. The new U.S. data comes from a representative Censuswide survey of 252 senior manufacturing decisionmakers.
In the U.S., 52% of CPG manufacturers have deployed AI across multiple sites or processes, versus 27% globally. By 2030, 67% of U.S. respondents expect AI to be core to their operations, compared with 37% of respondents worldwide.
U.S. CPG producers estimate operational losses at 20% of potential revenue
U.S. CPG manufacturers estimate that downtime, waste, delays, rework and suboptimal asset use cost them 20% of potential manufacturing revenue. The global average is 15%.
Respondents expect the gap to widen. U.S. losses are projected to reach 27% by 2027, against 21% globally, and 34% by 2030, against 29% globally.
Labor shortages, aging infrastructure and compliance costs intensify the pressure
Schneider Electric attributes the greater U.S. exposure to domestic labor shortages, aging infrastructure and higher compliance burdens. The company argues that AI adoption must be paired with investment in connected, contextualized data, open automation and industrial intelligence software to turn insight into action.
"Manufacturers are being asked to increase productivity, adapt faster, and do more with the resources they have," said Greg Magdanz, Vice President of OEM Sales at Schneider Electric. He said connecting automation, data and digital technologies lets manufacturers convert early AI adoption into production efficiencies and stronger operational resilience.
Schneider Electric uses PACK EXPO to pitch open, software-defined automation
Schneider Electric is presenting the session "Open, Connected, and Human-Centered: The Future of Industrial Operations" and holding customer conversations throughout the show. It is working through its network of OEMs, machine builders and alliance partners to apply automation, electrification, software and data to the efficiency, volatility and workforce pressures facing CPG and packaging manufacturers.