Yokogawa Survey Finds Two-Thirds of Process Industry Companies Are Anticipating Fully Autonomous Operations by 2030
16.9.2020 10:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) today revealed the results of a global end-user survey on the outlook for industrial autonomy*, which shows that 64% of respondents from companies in process industries are anticipating fully autonomous operations by 2030. The survey provides an in-depth view of future trends in automation and autonomy, business priorities, and technologies being deployed in key process industries including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, petrochemicals, and power generation.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200916005058/en/
Technology investment over next 3 years (Graphic: Yokogawa Electric Corporation)
Key Insights
Companies are moving to fully autonomous operations by 2030, and will invest in technologies that aid decision-making
Sixty-four percent of respondents stated that they expect to reach autonomous operations in their primary operations by 2030. Eighty-nine percent said their companies currently have plans to increase the level of autonomy in their operations. Regarding their current status, 64% said that they are conducting or are piloting semi-autonomous or autonomous operations, while 67% expect significant automation of most decision-making processes in plant operations by 2023.
Cyber security (51%), cloud, analytics, and big data (47%), and artificial intelligence (42%) are three key areas in which companies are planning significant investment over the next three years. These will enable organizations to make better decisions across a greater span of control.
COVID-19 has put the brakes on economic growth in 2020 but will be a catalyst for the medium- to long-term growth of industrial autonomy.
COVID-19 has arguably presented a great impetus for industrial autonomy moving forward. A higher priority is now being placed on the ability to continue running operations without workers needing to be present. A majority of respondents are expecting to increase their investment in autonomous operations as a direct result of COVID-19.
Respondents were also asked to rank the top four applications in which they were directing investment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unsurprisingly, remote operations and remote servicing came out as two of the key applications for which priorities have increased, with a respective 36% and 30% of participants selecting them. The ability to conduct work without the need for workers to be present in a hazardous environment provides significant safety and cost benefits.
The survey also uncovered significant differences across industries in post-COVID-19 investment priorities. For example, compared with other industries, conventional power generation and chemical/petrochemical participants placed a greater focus on investments in worker safety.
Regional trends
The survey revealed regional differences in investment in new technologies and the push to industrial autonomy. Relative to other regions, Asia-Pacific is the most engaged in the shift to industrial autonomy. The survey found that the proportion of companies in Asia-Pacific that are prioritizing investment in autonomous systems for operations is 18% to 27% higher than other regions. This is a key statistic and shows that funding is being directed into autonomous operations in the region. Seventy-one percent of respondents in Asia-Pacific felt that they would attain fully autonomous operations in ten years' time, compared with just 58% in North America and 56% in Western Europe.
“From this research study, we have confirmed our perception that the shift from industrial automation to industrial autonomy, which we call IA2IA, is going to gain momentum over the next decade. As COVID-19 will accelerate this trend, and companies' interest in introducing related technologies continues to be strong, Yokogawa can support customers in strengthening their competitiveness step by step based upon our roadmap to autonomous operations,” said Tsuyoshi Abe, senior vice president and head of the Marketing Headquarters at Yokogawa.
Yokogawa believes the digital transformation of companies’ manufacturing and production operations will lead towards autonomous operations; the results of the survey demonstrate that companies are prioritizing and investing in the technologies of tomorrow in order to make this a reality.
The survey highlight report can be downloaded from the following website.
https://www.yokogawa.com/special/ia2ia/outlook/
* The “Global End-user Survey on the Outlook for Industrial Autonomy” was conducted on behalf of Yokogawa by research company Omdia among 504 decision-makers in process industry companies between June and July 2020.
About Yokogawa
Founded in 1915, Yokogawa engages in broad-ranging activities in the areas of measurement, control, and information. The industrial automation business provides vital products, services, and solutions to a diverse range of process industries including oil, chemicals, natural gas, power, iron and steel, and pulp and paper. With the life innovation business, the company aims to radically improve productivity across the pharmaceutical and food industry value chains. The test & measurement, aviation, and other businesses continue to provide essential instruments and equipment with industry-leading precision and reliability. Yokogawa co-innovates with its customers through a global network of 114 companies spanning 62 countries, generating US$3.7 billion in sales in FY2019. For more information, please visit www.yokogawa.com.
The names of corporations, organizations, products, services and logos herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Yokogawa Electric Corporation or their respective holders.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200916005058/en/
Contact information
Public Relations
Integrated Communications Center
Yokogawa Electric Corporation
Yokogawa-pr@cs.jp.yokogawa.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
KATE Launches "KABUKE: Break Convention" Kabuki-Inspired International Campaign17.7.2026 10:00:00 EEST | Press release
Global cosmetics brand KATE launched “KABUKE: Break Convention,” a new international campaign drawing on elements of Kabuki, the traditional Japanese performing art. The campaign debuted on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. In this campaign, KATE’s shadow enhancing makeup—rooted in Japanese aesthetics—was paired with the Kabuki spirit inherited from traditional Kabuki theater to communicate the value of individuality and self‑expression through makeup on a global scale. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260708829427/en/ KATE international campaign “KABUKE: Break Convention” key visual. Dedicated website: https://www.kate-global.net/my/special/kate_kabuki/ Since its founding, KATE has championed the slogan “NO MORE RULES.,” offering makeup that defies convention and empowers individuals to express their identity and bring out confidence. At the heart of this vision is the brand’s signature shadow enhancing makeup approach
Yoshihiro Shimamura Joins the Marché du Film’s “Investors Circle 2026” as an Invited Investor, Backing a New Feature Film17.7.2026 04:00:00 EEST | Press release
Shimamura Yoshihiro Film Production Co., Ltd. (Head office: Osaka, Japan; Representative Director: Yoshihiro Shimamura), a company active in film production and investment, today announced that Representative Director Yoshihiro Shimamura has decided to invest in an international feature film after being invited to the “Investors Circle 2026” — a distinction that reflects his standing as one of the field’s most highly regarded producers and investors. Hosted by the Marché du Film, the business arm of the Festival de Cannes and one of the world’s largest film markets, the Investors Circle is an invitation-only summit that connects a select group of private investors with high-end feature films during early-stage financing. Held in Cannes, France, May 16-17, 2026, it brings internationally acclaimed directors and producers together with investors around a curated slate of projects in development. During the summit, Shimamura attended private pitching sessions and, after individual meeting
Meiji Seika Pharma: Results from the Global Phase III Trial (Integral-2) of Nacubactam, a Novel β-Lactamase Inhibitor, Highlighted in The Lancet Microbe ’s Coverage of ESCMID Global Congress 202617.7.2026 04:00:00 EEST | Press release
Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Toshiaki Nagasato) today announced that results from the global Phase III trial (Integral-2) of nacubactam (Development Code: OP0595), a novel β-lactamase inhibitor, were highlighted in The Lancet Microbe’s coverage of ESCMID Global Congress 2026 (held in Munich, Germany). As highlighted in The Lancet Microbe’s coverage, the key findings presented by Meiji Seika Pharma at ESCMID Global Congress 2026 are as follows: The Integral-2 study (jRCT2031230076) is a global Phase III clinical trial that enrolled patients with complicated urinary tract infections, acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis, hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia, ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia, or complicated intra-abdominal infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (excluding Acinetobacter species). The study has achieved the prespecified study objectives. For the primary endpoint of overall treatme
Takeda’s Zasocitinib Demonstrates Consistent, High Rates of Skin Clearance Across the Body, Including Hard-to-Treat and High-Impact Sites, in Phase 3 Psoriasis Studies17.7.2026 01:00:00 EEST | Press release
Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced new data from the two pivotal Phase 3 studies of zasocitinib (TAK-279), a next-generation, highly selective and potent oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO).1 Presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Innovation Academy, these secondary endpoint data show that zasocitinib demonstrated consistent and high rates of skin clearance across hard-to-treat, high-impact sites, including the scalp, nails, palms and soles, compared with placebo.1-5 These data build on the topline results from the Phase 3 randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo- and active comparator-controlled LATITUDE PsO 3001 and 3002 studies.2,6 In those studies, about 70% of patients treated with zasocitinib achieved static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) 0/1 (clear or almost clear skin) at week 16, with a significantly greater Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response rate seen as early as w
Merz Completes Inaugural €450 Million Schuldschein Loan Issuance17.7.2026 00:36:00 EEST | Press release
The Merz Group has successfully completed its first-ever Schuldschein loan issuance, placing a total volume of €450 million in the debt capital market – a multiple of three relating to the launch volume. The debut transaction was significantly oversubscribed and attracted strong interest from all investor groups. The proceeds were settled and paid out today. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260716926041/en/ Dr. Almuth Steinkühler, Chief Financial Officer Merz Group The transaction comprises both fixed- and floating-rate tranches with maturities of three, five, seven, and ten years. Around 50 German and international investors participated, representing a broad range of institutions, including private banks, German federal state-owned banks, public savings banks, cooperative banks, pension funds and occupational pension institutions. With the successful placement, Merz has further diversified its funding base by
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom