A factory rarely comes to a standstill because of one catastrophic failure. It usually starts small. A weld that's slightly off or a machine part wearing out faster than expected. Left alone, these small problems slow production, raise maintenance costs and hurt product quality long before anyone notices.

General Motors: catching failures before they reach the line

At Factory Zero, General Motors is piloting a system called WeldBrAIn, which checks every single weld on every vehicle in real time instead of relying on spot inspections. Across its plants, GM also reads vibration patterns and electrical current from sensors on the assembly line to flag failing equipment before it breaks down, so maintenance teams can step in on their own schedule instead of scrambling after a stoppage. On the inspection side, AI-based cameras on GM's robot assembly lines have already caught 72 component failures that would otherwise have reached the next stage of production. Together, these systems mean fewer surprises on the floor and a more predictable output, day to day.

Siemens: proving the numbers at scale

Siemens takes a similar approach. Its Senseye Predictive Maintenance tool tracks how machinery and factory infrastructure are performing and flags issues before they cause a shutdown. Siemens reports that firms using it cut maintenance costs by 40%, lift productivity by 55%, and reduce downtime by half. Alongside this, Siemens and Microsoft built Industrial Copilot, a generative AI assistant that lets engineers flag a problem out loud, in any language, and get a work order sent to the right team instantly. Siemens has also released Inspekto, a computer vision system that checks parts for defects on the line without a manual inspector, cutting down on rework and warranty costs.

Why this shift matters

What GM and Siemens have in common is that neither is using AI to automate for its own sake. Both are using it to catch a problem before it becomes expensive, whether a weld, a bearing, or a batch of defective parts. This is the shift happening across manufacturing broadly: from fixing things after they break to catching them before they do. For companies running tight margins, that difference shows up directly in maintenance spend, output, and how consistent the final product is.

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Recognising the products behind this shift

This is exactly what the Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Industrial Operations category at the ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 was built to recognise; about AI products helping manufacturers run more efficiently, tighten quality control, and solve hard industrial problems, with results that show up on the ground, not just in a pitch deck.

Manufacturing is one part of a bigger picture. Across 16 categories, the awards recognise AI products reshaping healthcare, financial services, cybersecurity, retail, and enterprise operations. The bar is the same everywhere: does the product solve a real problem, and does it hold up at scale?

Where to submit

The ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026, presented by The Economic Times and supported by Knowledge Partner Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, is built to find products that are already changing how a factory floor, a hospital, or a bank runs. If your product is doing something similar in manufacturing or any other sector, this is where it gets seen by the people who matter.

Nominate now!

1. Who should you consider entering the ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026?
   The awards are open to startups, scale-ups, enterprises and independent builders developing AI products with the potential to create measurable impact. Products at various stages, from early development to established market solutions, are eligible to apply.
2. How do I know if my product fits the right category?
   Choose the category that best reflects your product's primary use case, industry application or business impact. If your product spans multiple areas, our team can help identify the most suitable category for your nomination.
3. Why are companies entering the ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026?
   For many organisations, recognition is only part of the value. The awards provide an opportunity to benchmark products, build credibility, gain visibility among industry leaders and showcase innovation before an independent jury of experts.
4. Can startups apply alongside large enterprises?
   Yes. The awards welcome entries from startups, growth-stage companies and established enterprises. Products are evaluated on innovation, impact and execution, not simply the size of the organisation behind them.
5. Do products need to be live in the market to qualify?
   No. Depending on the category, products in development, pilot stages or early deployment may also be eligible, provided they can demonstrate innovation and a compelling use case.