The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in mechanical and plant engineering is becoming increasingly important - especially for business processes and digital products. This is shown by the results of a recent survey by VDMA Software and Digitalization.

AI use in mechanical and plant engineering on the rise

AI already plays an important role for many companies today. The use of AI is particularly relevant in software development (51%), marketing (36%) and customer service (26%). This means that artificial intelligence is no longer a marginal topic in mechanical engineering, but is increasingly becoming an integral part of operational processes.

AI functionalities are also being used more and more frequently in the products themselves. Applications such as predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, operational optimization and operator assistance systems are increasingly becoming standard. Against this backdrop, it can be assumed that within a few years, the majority of companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector will have embedded AI in both processes and products.

Measurable effects of AI in business processes

The VDMA survey clearly shows measurable improvements through the use of AI in the company.

The most important effects include:

• Reduction in personnel costs (35 percent)
• Increase in employee motivation (31 percent)
• Reduction of process times (31 percent)
• Increasing the degree of automation of processes and decisions (30 percent)

These results underline the fact that the use of AI in mechanical engineering is not only strategically relevant, but also offers concrete operational advantages.

AI from the lab to the shop floor

The survey also shows that AI and machine learning have made the leap from research into industrial practice. 43% of companies are already using AI and machine learning solutions. A further 21% are planning to start using them by the end of 2025, and an additional 27% by 2028, meaning that artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming an industrial reality in mechanical and plant engineering.

Effects are also visible on the customer side. Companies report new products and services (23%), improved service (22%) and progress in automation, throughput times and resource efficiency.

In-house developments characterize the use of AI in mechanical engineering

When developing AI solutions, the mechanical engineering sector relies heavily on in-house developments. 65% of companies develop AI applications themselves based on existing software tools. At the same time, 48 percent work together with IT service providers and 42 percent cooperate with universities and research institutes. Completely in-house developments are pursued by 22 percent of those surveyed.

These figures show that the use of AI in mechanical and plant engineering often takes place in hybrid development models in which internal know-how is combined with external expertise.

From individual solutions to business-critical systems

The survey's outlook makes it clear: AI is evolving from selective applications to an integral part of the business model. Data-driven services are changing existing revenue models - for example through pay-per-use approaches or performance-based contracts.

At the same time, there are still hurdles. 45% of companies cite a lack of human resources, 44% a return on investment that has not yet been clearly proven. In addition, there is insufficient data quality (42%) and a lack of qualified specialists (37%). This results in a clear need for action in the areas of skills development, data strategy and change management.

AI as a reality in mechanical and plant engineering

The results of the VDMA AI survey show that artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering is no longer a vision of the future. For many companies, the use of AI is already creating measurable added value and is increasingly influencing processes, products and business models. The increasing maturity of AI solutions indicates that their importance for mechanical and plant engineering will continue to grow.