The future of manufacturing is directly tied to the future success of the global economy. The industry accounts for over 13.6% of the global employed population and comprises approximately 16% of the global GDP. Experts predict value added in the manufacturing market to amount to $8.8 trillion in 2024 and forecast a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.15% through 2029.

To discover what manufacturing organizations are prioritizing in 2025, the challenges they face, and what the future of manufacturing will look like, we commissioned a survey of CPQ, PLM, and engineering modeling or simulation software professionals in the United States and Germany.