As a core driver of modern manufacturing development, industrial automation continues to
attract widespread attention for its growth trajectory. Comprehensive industry observations and
market data analysis reveal a steady and positive growth curve in this sector.
Sustained Strong Drivers:
Labor Cost and Structural Shifts: In major manufacturing regions, the long-term rise in labor costs
and shortages of specialized skilled workers continue to drive enterprises toward automation solutions
to stabilize production and enhance efficiency.
Demand for Production Efficiency and Quality Improvement: Intensifying market competition compels
manufacturers to demand higher production efficiency, product consistency, and quality stability, with
automation serving as a key means to achieve these goals.
Supply Chain Resilience Requirements: Recent global supply chain challenges have prompted companies
to reevaluate production layouts and processes. Automation plays a vital role in enhancing the feasibility
and efficiency of localized/nearshored production.
Technological Advancements and Cost Reduction: Core automation components—such as sensors, controllers,
and actuators—continue to improve in performance while decreasing in cost. Simultaneously, the adoption of
industrial networking standards (e.g., OPC UA, TSN) and enhanced software capabilities have reduced
automation system complexity and integration challenges.
Emerging Application Scenarios: Automation technology is accelerating its penetration into traditionally
labor-intensive sectors, including light industrial assembly, logistics warehousing (particularly sorting and
handling), food processing, and laboratory automation, opening new growth avenues for the market.
Growth Rate Performance:
According to comprehensive analyses from multiple independent market research institutions, the
industrial automation market has maintained growth rates significantly higher than the global manufacturing
average over recent years. While specific figures vary based on research scope (hardware, software, services,
etc.) and statistical periods, the market is widely recognized as operating within a mid-to-high single-digit or
even low double-digit compound annual growth rate range.
Growth varies across different segments:
Robotics (especially collaborative robots and mobile robots): Often regarded as one of the fastest-growing
sub-segments, driven by flexibility, ease of use, and optimized deployment costs.
Machine vision systems: Demonstrate robust growth fueled by applications such as quality inspection and
guidance positioning.
Industrial software (MES/MOM, SCADA, industrial IoT platforms): Serving as the bridge connecting physical
equipment with information management, its growth rate generally exceeds that of traditional hardware.
Core control systems (PLC, DCS) and drives/motors: As the foundation of automation, they maintain steady
growth and benefit from upgrade demand.
Growth Stages and Characteristics:
The market is transitioning from large-scale automation deployment toward deeper, smarter integration
and optimization. This shift emphasizes not just individual equipment automation, but interconnected
production lines, entire factories, and supply chain-level data-driven decision-making and flexible manufacturing
capabilities.
The importance of system integration services is increasingly evident, as the successful implementation of
complex automation projects heavily relies on specialized planning, design, installation, and operational capabilities.
Demand for modular, scalable, and easily maintainable automation solutions continues to grow to
accommodate rapidly changing production requirements.
Future Outlook:
Core growth drivers (efficiency, quality, cost, resilience) are expected to maintain their influence over the
medium to long term.
Continuous technological advancements, particularly in data analytics, advanced sensing, and the integration
of edge computing with cloud computing, will empower automation systems with enhanced perception, analysis,
and adaptive capabilities, further unlocking growth potential.
Market penetration is expected to rise steadily as automation solutions become more accessible and
cost-effective across a broader range of industries and enterprise sizes, including small and medium-sized businesses.
In summary, the industrial automation sector demonstrates robust and sustainable growth momentum. Its
expansion rate reflects the manufacturing industry's urgent need to enhance efficiency, quality, resilience, and
adaptability. Driven by technological advancements, cost optimization, and expanding application scenarios, it is
projected to maintain growth rates exceeding the manufacturing sector average for the foreseeable future.