We surveyed 2,234 maintenance and operations leaders across the U.S. and Canada to find out.
AI adoption is booming
AI adoption is booming
0%
of maintenance teams are already using AI in their operations
…and it’s quickly driving results
of leaders report measurable ROI from AI initiatives in less than 6 months
AI adoption is booming
AI adoption is booming
58%
of maintenance teams are already using AI in their operations
…and it’s quickly driving results
75%
of leaders report measurable ROI from AI initiatives in less than 6 months
Proactive in theory, reactive in practice
THE EXPECTATION
64%
of leaders say they use a preventive maintenance program
THE REALITY
50%
of teams dedicate less than 40% of time to planned work
Why every failure matters more in 2026
The amount of unplanned downtime is not decreasing for most companies, and it’s getting more expensive for many.
Has the cost of unplanned downtime decreased or increased at your organization in the last 12 months?
Stayed the same
45%
Increased
39%
Decreased
16%
Has your facility experienced more or less unplanned downtime in the last 12 months?
Stayed the same
45%
More
34%
Less
21%
Labor shortages and skills gaps are among the primary drivers of downtime in 2026
These labor constraints aren’t solved by hiring alone, so leaders are responding by funding strategies, tools, and AI initiatives that amplify their existing workforce.
36%
point to labor shortages as a reason for increased downtime
28%
say a lack of necessary skills on the team is a downtime driver
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