If manufacturing had a “wrapped” this year, it wouldn’t be defined by flashy buzzwords or big headlines. It would be defined by something far more important: preparation.
Across the industry, manufacturers spent the year navigating cost volatility, labor shortages, and a rapidly evolving digital landscape. At CIMx, this year was about refinement and maturity, sharpening what works, improving how we deliver value, and helping manufacturers build stronger foundations for what comes next.
As we approach our 30th year, here’s a look at the themes, insights, and momentum that defined 2025.
Rather than chasing trends, this year was about getting better at what matters most.
For CIMx, that meant refining how we show up, engage manufacturers, demonstrate value, and support our customers' long-term success. Every improvement, internally and externally, tied back to the same mission we’ve held for decades: helping manufacturers operate smarter, more efficiently, and with confidence. That maturity showed up in how we approached technology, education, and partnership, and in how we helped manufacturers take practical, achievable steps forward.
This year also marked important moments of connection.
We spent time engaging directly with manufacturers and wire harness industry leaders at events like EWPT Expo, reinforcing the importance of meeting the industry on the shop floor, in real conversations, and around real challenges. We also hosted our first webinar on small automation steps, creating a new channel to share insights, spark dialogue, and help manufacturers navigate digital transformation in a more accessible way. Education remains a cornerstone of progress and expanding how we deliver it was a meaningful step forward.
If Quantum had a playlist this year, a few tracks would be on repeat. Scheduling, quality, and automation readiness stood out as the themes manufacturers gravitated toward most. Not because they’re buzzwords, but because they address the realities manufacturers face every day. Behind the scenes, we focused heavily on refining training and demo experiences, both in function and execution. The goal was simple: make it easier for manufacturers to understand what’s possible, see value faster, and feel confident taking the next step.
manufacturing wrapped: prepare now to win later
If there’s one thing manufacturers shared this year, it was clarity around the challenges ahead.
Cost volatility, influenced by shifting trade policies, continued to pressure margins. Labor shortages remained persistent, forcing teams to do more with less. At the same time, the industry entered a new era of manufacturing, one where automation and digital tools are no longer “nice to have,” but necessary to remain competitive.
Manufacturers focused on building better foundations: improving what already works, identifying what doesn’t, and targeting manual processes that slow teams down or introduce risk. Removing those manual barriers became the first (and most important) step toward unlocking the full potential of digital transformation.
More than anything, this year was about preparation.
With uncertainty across costs, labor, and operations, manufacturers recognized that waiting isn’t a strategy. The path forward starts with visibility, standardization, and incremental automation, not sweeping overhauls. The manufacturers best positioned for 2026 are the ones using today to reduce manual effort, improve data accuracy, and build systems that support people, not overwhelm them.
what’s staying on our playlist for 2026
Looking ahead, CIMx enters the next year focused and mission-driven, more aligned than ever with the purpose that’s guided us for over 30 years.
Digital transformation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. But it does need to happen, and it needs to happen now. The manufacturers who act with intention today are the ones who will come out stronger, more resilient, and more competitive tomorrow. As we head into the next chapter, our commitment remains the same: to help manufacturers turn complexity into clarity, data into decisions, and challenges into opportunities. Because the future of manufacturing isn’t about chasing the next trend, it’s about building the right foundation to thrive in whatever comes next.
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