New research shows top OEMs cut downtime recovery by 40%, strengthening profitability through resilience-first strategies
MWN-AI** Summary
New research from Rockwell Automation reveals that top original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have successfully cut downtime recovery by 40%, bolstering profitability through resilience-first strategies. This study, titled the OEM Advantage Playbook, is based on insights from 500 OEM leaders across 17 countries and highlights the adaptive strategies leading companies are employing amid complex operational challenges, including workforce instability, supply chain disruptions, and rising customer expectations.
According to the research, the average downtime for OEMs lasts approximately 40 hours, costing an estimated $3.6 million. However, the most progressive OEMs are enabling their customers to recover from outages within 24 hours. By focusing on rapid recovery, operational consistency, and data-driven decision-making, these leaders are prioritizing resilience over merely enhancing machine performance. Evan Kaiser, Rockwell Automation’s vice president of global OEM and emerging industries, emphasizes that future OEM leadership will hinge on the ability to deliver consistent results, even amidst workforce turnover and supply chain pressures.
Key findings also suggest that the current state of workforce turnover, reaching up to 47% in some areas, necessitates that OEMs design expertise into their workflows. This minimizes reliance on individual experience and enables faster onboarding processes. High performers are also evolving their performance metrics by integrating profitability and customer outcomes alongside traditional measures.
Technological advancements such as digital twins and collaborative robots are being more strategically deployed to enhance machine quality and operational consistency. Additionally, compliance and cybersecurity are emerging as critical competitive differentiators, with leading OEMs incorporating robust cybersecurity measures into product designs from the outset.
This research underscores the ongoing transition in the OEM landscape, where resilience and adaptability are becoming essential for sustained success in a volatile market.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent insights from Rockwell Automation's "OEM Advantage Playbook" signal crucial shifts in the operational strategies of leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). By reducing downtime recovery by 40%, these OEMs have underscored the importance of resilience in today’s volatile industrial landscape. For investors and stakeholders, this indicates a strong market trend: resilience-first strategies not only enhance profitability but also solidify customer loyalty and trust.
Key findings indicate that downtime is a substantial financial drain, averaging 40 hours and costing upwards of $3.6 million per incident. Therefore, the strategic emphasis on rapid recovery can be seen as a competitive differentiator. Companies focusing on early detection and swift issue resolution are likely to maintain revenue streams and mitigate customer churn – both critical for long-term profitability.
Moreover, the ongoing issue of workforce instability, with turnover rates as high as 47% in some areas, means that OEMs must innovate around human resource challenges. Embedding expertise into machinery design and workflows can significantly reduce the risks associated with staffing changes. Investors should consider businesses that are proactively adjusting their operational frameworks to address these challenges.
Additionally, the evolving performance metrics that balance traditional production metrics with profitability and customer satisfaction should be a focal point for stakeholders. The integration of advanced technologies – including digital twins, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and cobots – is vital for improving product reliability and operational consistency.
In light of these trends, investors might want to prioritize companies exhibiting growth through resilience strategies. As compliance and cybersecurity become critical differentiators, it’s prudent to engage with OEMs that are proactive in integrating these elements into their business models. Overall, resilience-first strategies are not only paving the way for operational excellence but also positioning businesses for sustainable growth in turbulent times.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Canada NewsWire
Findings reveal how leading machine builders strengthen recovery, consistency and customer outcomes
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 24, 2026 /CNW/ -- Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today released new global research that highlights how leading machine builders are strengthening performance, resilience and customer trust amid increasingly complex operating conditions.
Titled, the OEM Advantage Playbook, the research is based on insights gained from 500 OEM leaders across 17 countries. It highlights that while OEMs continue to navigate workforce instability, supply chain volatility, cost pressure and rising customer expectations, many are adapting how they operate to perform more consistently when conditions are less predictable. Rather than relying solely on machine performance, leading OEMs are focusing on faster recovery, operational consistency and decision-making grounded in data.
"The next era of OEM leadership won't be defined by who builds the most advanced machine," said Evan Kaiser, vice president, global OEM and emerging industries at Rockwell Automation. "It will be defined by who builds a business that delivers consistent performance despite workforce turnover, supply disruptions and relentless market pressure."
Key Findings from the Research:
- Rapid Recovery Is the New Profitability Lever - With average outages lasting 40 hours and costing $3.6 million, leading OEMs enable their customers to recover in 24 hours or less. These organizations design machines to detect issues early and restore performance quickly, helping to protect revenue and customer confidence.
- Workforce Instability Is Now Permanent, and Winners Design For It - With turnover reaching 47 percent in some regions, leading OEMs embed expertise into machines and workflows to reduce dependence on individual experience while enabling faster onboarding and consistent performance.
- Performance Measurement Is Evolving - High-performing OEMs prioritize profitability and customer outcome metrics - cost of goods sold, lead times, downtime recovery - alongside traditional production yield and emerging people-centered measures like safety and satisfaction.
- Technology Is Being Applied With Greater Intent - Top performers adopt digital twins, AMRs and cobots strategically to design quality into machines and improve deployment consistency, applying field insights to inform future designs rather than solving isolated problems.
- Compliance and Cybersecurity Are Becoming Differentiators - Leading OEMs integrate cybersecurity into product design from the outset, treating security with the same discipline as safety to support market access, reduce delays and build customer trust.
To learn more, the full findings of the OEM Advantage Playbook can be found here.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
SOURCE Rockwell Automation, Inc.
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FAQ**
How does Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK) plan to further enhance the implementation of resilience-first strategies among OEMs to maintain profitability as customer expectations continue to rise?
What specific technologies employed by Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK) have been most effective in achieving the 40% reduction in downtime recovery, and how can these be leveraged for future machine designs?
In light of the research findings, how is Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK) supporting OEMs in embedding expertise into machines to address the challenges of workforce instability and ensure consistent performance?
What role does cybersecurity play in the product design and compliance strategies of Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK) to not only prevent issues but also build trust with customers in a rapidly evolving market environment?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK).
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