AI in Irish Manufacturing: From Adoption to Advantage

21 Aug

A 3-Minute Read for Irish Manufacturing Leaders

Irish manufacturing firms are under pressure to increase efficiency, reduce downtime, and stay competitive against global rivals.

While some larger multinationals are pushing ahead with automation and data-driven operations, many Irish-based companies - particularly SMEs - remain uncertain where to begin.

The truth is: AI isn’t a future trend. It’s already here, and it’s urgently relevant to Irish manufacturing.

Why Now? Three Reasons Irish Manufacturers Can’t Wait

1. Adoption Is High - But Strategy Is Rare

91% of Irish firms say they’re using AI - but for most, that means dabbling with pilots or using tools like ChatGPT for admin tasks. Only 10% have a real AI strategy. That gap is where the opportunity lies.

Here’s the reality we’ve seen from dozens of Irish manufacturers:

70% are only at the pilot stage of AI

Most still rely on manual systems or Google Sheets

A few early movers are already gaining advantage - cutting downtime, improving quality, and making faster decisions

2. The Numbers Back It Up

Ireland’s AI adoption rate is one of the highest in Europe, but the depth of adoption lags.

AI adoption in Ireland has surged to 91% - ahead of many EU peers

SMEs adopt AI at rates 30% lower than large enterprises

That means SMEs who move first have the best chance to win

Most SMEs we meet are still running on spreadsheets, manual approvals, and gut-feel planning. In our last Accelerator programme, nearly every company said the same thing: “We know AI matters, but we don’t know where to begin.”

Together, we tackled the issues of:

Manual stock takes that never matched reality

Paper-based approvals slowing down production

Forecasting done in someone’s head instead of on data

By the end of the programme, these same companies had clear AI use cases, pilot projects with ROI potential, and the confidence to take the next step.

3. Profit Potential Remains High

73% of Irish manufacturers expect AI to increase profitability by 2030, yet only 3% have fully embedded AI across operations - below the EMEA average of 8%. Around 70% are still in the pilot stage, meaning the competitive advantage is still wide open for early movers.

The Strategic Advantage for Ireland’s Manufacturing Sector

From food to pharma, medtech to engineering, Irish manufacturing is built on innovation. It’s time to pair that strength with digital agility. AI isn’t about coding or data science - it’s about smarter production, better forecasting, and stronger decision-making.

AI Accelerator Programme

AIM Centre’s AI Accelerator Programme is designed to help Irish manufacturing companies navigate their AI journey with confidence. Whether you’re a local SME or a multinational, our human-focused approach ensures you leave with: