FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Annual ETQ Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing Survey Highlights Key Opportunities and Challenges Facing UK Manufacturers
Comprehensive Survey Reveals Continuing Labour Shortages, Growing Use of AI , Shift in Role of Quality as a Strategic Revenue Driver
BURLINGTON, Mass. – July 21, 2025 — ETQ, part of Hexagon, has published findings of its second annual global, the ETQ Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing. The survey sheds light on a number of pressing challenges, as well as opportunities for UK manufacturers across a range of sectors. Chief among the trends identified were ongoing labour shortages and an increasing reliance on automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics to help mitigate the impact of these shortages.
Survey respondents also indicated that quality has become a strategic value driver to corporate revenue and business growth. However, the report also highlights persistent issues affecting UK manufacturers — notably unrelenting product recalls and rising incidents related to plant safety.
“Our ETQ Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing survey, although global in scope, provides a valuable glimpse into the challenges and ambitions of manufacturers across the UK. It’s noteworthy that while countries face distinct challenges, we’re seeing shared trends that transcend borders,” said Vick Vaishnavi, CEO, ETQ. “Much like in the U.S. and Germany, manufacturers in the UK are turning to technology to help them achieve and sustain their quality goals and overcome critical challenges, such as labour shortages, product recalls and safety risks.”
The ETQ Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing 2025 survey was carried out on behalf of ETQ by -the UK-based research firm, Censuswide. Out of the global survey, 176 quality leaders and related project managers at manufacturing firms across the UK were polled about quality trends, strategic initiatives and the current state of quality in their organizations.
Below are key UK findings from the ETQ Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing 2025 survey:
AI investment is accelerating
Forty-nine per cent (49%) of UK respondents to this year’s survey said their organisations plan to implement AI within the next two years, while 34% are already using the technology. Respondents cited the following applications for AI in their organisations:
- Automating core processes (47%)
- Automating document processing (47%)
- Finding defects on the factory floor (47%)
Technology investment is central to quality improvement
Over the next three years, UK manufacturers are increasingly turning to technology platforms to boost their quality initiatives. The technologies either in use or under consideration include
- Generative AI (43%)
- Predictive quality analytics (40%)
- Connected solutions between the shop floor and enterprise operations (36%)
- Lights out/autonomous operations (36%)
A persistent labour shortage is impacting most manufacturers
Seventy-two per cent (72%) of respondents in the UK reported that their organisations have been impacted by the labour shortage in manufacturing, with 88% revealing that the labour shortage has had a negative impact on the quality of their products or services.
Product recalls remain high despite vigilance and oversight
Seventy-seven per cent (77%) of UK respondents said their organisations had experienced at least one product recall in the past five years. Of these, 46% reported that the cost to resolve each product recall ranged between £4 million and £7.99 million. Nearly half (47%) attributed their product recalls to problems in the supply chain.
Safety incidents continue to impact quality and the numbers are rising
Forty per cent (40%) of respondents reported experiencing between 11 and 20 safety incidents in an average year, and 45 percent stated this figure has increased in the past few years.
Survey Methodology
UK industries represented in the survey include medium-to-large organizations in heavy manufacturing, electronics and appliances, medical devices, pharma and life sciences, food & beverage, chemicals & agrosciences, logistics & distribution, transportation, automotive, aerospace & defence and other manufacturing sectors.
About ETQ
ETQ, part of Hexagon, is a leading provider of integrated quality management, health, safety, and environmental solutions for manufacturers. Firms around the world rely on ETQ to ensure optimal quality at scale, reduce costs and improve the velocity of data-driven decisions. Learn more at etq.com.
Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.
Click here to download your copy of the report: “The Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing 2025.”
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Media Contacts:
Chris Nahil Linda Pendergast-Savage
ETQ lpendergastsavage@comcast.net
cnahil@etq.com 508-224-7905
617-529-6126