Manufacturers Score 49 Out of 100 on Wellness — Tools Are There, Habits Are Not

Sandvik Coromant has released its first-ever Manufacturing Wellness Report, and the headline number is blunt: the global manufacturing industry scores 49 out of 100 on overall manufacturing wellness. That is progress, but it is also a clear gap between recognizing what good performance looks like and actually embedding it across operations.

Benchmarking the Industry

The report draws on responses from nearly 1,000 global manufacturers, benchmarking them against eight habits linked to resilience, productivity, and sustainable growth.

The findings suggest manufacturers are taking steps to improve — but progress remains uneven. Nearly one in four organizations report having no access to manufacturing or process-related data. Almost half say they do not have a clear understanding of the performance targets set for their teams. For an industry that talks constantly about data-driven decision-making, those are uncomfortable numbers.

Circularity and Automation Lag Intent

Sustainability shows the same pattern of intent without structure: only 19% of organizations report having a formal circularity policy. Automation tells a similar story. While 69% of respondents report at least some automation in manufacturing operations, other stages remain less advanced.

One bright spot stands out. The research highlights the value of external partnerships — organizations that collaborate with third-party partners score significantly higher on overall manufacturing wellness and are more likely to apply efficiency principles consistently.

Blomqvist: "Not Starting From Zero"

Helen Blomqvist, President of Sandvik Coromant, framed the results as a foundation to build on rather than a verdict:

"Our first global Manufacturing Wellness Report shows an industry with strong foundations, but also significant unrealized potential. Manufacturers are collecting data, investing in technology and identifying skills gaps. The challenge now is to connect these efforts into a structured approach that improves performance across the whole value chain."

"The positive message from the report is that manufacturers are not starting from zero. Many already have the tools, technologies, and ambition they need to improve performance. The opportunity now is to make those assets work harder by connecting data across teams, reviewing technology more deliberately, developing people at every level and building stronger partnerships."

Measure Your Own Operation

Alongside the report, Sandvik Coromant's Manufacturing Wellness Assessment is available online. The 28-question tool takes around 10 minutes to complete and provides manufacturers with their own score, helping identify strengths and improvement areas across their production set-up. The full Manufacturing Wellness Assessment Report is available for download on the Sandvik Coromant website.

The takeaway for engineers and operations leaders: the next stage is not simply adopting more technology. It is connecting the tools, people, and processes already in place through a clearer, more holistic strategy.