Agentic AI: Manufacturing's New Best Buddy for Planners

Manufacturing executives are enthusiastic about artificial intelligence, but many are unsure how to best use it. Only 29% of supply chain and logistics professionals are currently deploying AI for operational decisions. The largest group, 37%, is actively exploring its potential. George Ninikas of ORTEC suggests the future of manufacturing AI lies in supporting experienced planners, not replacing them. This means faster recommendations, continuous monitoring, and intelligent scenario analysis. Operations leaders want AI that can respond to changing conditions in real-time. Dynamic routing and real-time replanning are seen by 34% as the most impactful applications. Agentic AI, which can take multi-step actions for a planner, is emerging as a key support system. It works alongside human decision-makers, helping them juggle complex factors like machine capacity, workforce, and customer demands. This approach helps planners interact more easily with powerful optimization tools.