Manufacturers Experience Productivity Declines After AI Adoption

A study by MIT Sloan finds manufacturers often see productivity declines after initial AI deployments, as additive tools layer onto fragmented workflows without organizational redesign. Researchers cite coordination costs, legacy systems and workforce misalignment that produce a short-term performance dip before potential gains. The study recommends integrating data architectures, shifting decision rights and investing in retraining to realize durable ROI across operations.