While manufacturers have leveraged AI technologies since the 1980s to automate repetitive tasks, the bulk of AI implementations have focused on enabling machinery on factory floors. Yet, one major challenge continues to slow operations, increase costs, and frustrate workers: language barriers.

English may be the language of business, and yet only 20% of global workforces speak it fluently. The communication gaps in the global, diverse industry of manufacturing have been critically overlooked, leading to a lack of standardization in terminologies, contextual misunderstandings, safety risks and production delays.

Implementing AI for global workers versus machines has the opportunity to provide solutions that improve productivity, eliminate bottlenecks and reduce compliance risks. So how can specialized AI services like translation impact operations for the world’s largest industrials?

The Hidden Costs of Language Gaps

The costs to provide universal communication and collaboration are high, not only for bottom lines but for employee engagement. According to recent research:

• Organizations lose up to $54,860 per employee annually due to time wasted clarifying unclear messages.
• 49% of workers say poor communication reduces productivity.
• 42% report increased stress due to miscommunication.

In addition, it is estimated that the manufacturing industry spends $2.19 billion every year on translation services. Traditionally, companies have relied on human translators and agencies, which makes sense for complex or specialized content, but this approach can also be costly and inefficient.

AI-driven translation and writing assistance tools have potential to bridge communication gaps quickly, securely and cost-effectively, improving efficiencies and supporting human workers so that they can spend time on more meaningful, specialized work.

But AI implementations don’t have to be all in from the get-go. Getting started with AI with specific projects, use cases, and teams can help streamline processes and communication.

Understanding the Challenges and Benefits of Adoption

Despite the potential of AI, not all manufacturers are fully embracing automation services. Hurdles and concerns we hear from manufacturers span topics ranging from data security and privacy, to regulation. Manufacturers are wise to carefully evaluate these challenges as they define their AI strategy. Providers are already offering enterprise-ready solutions that address these concerns and AI is already delivering measurable results, clear ROI and a clear competitive advantage.

According to an independent study conducted by Forrester on behalf of DeepL, companies using our AI-powered translation solutions reported a 345% ROI and a 90% reduction in translation time. Manufacturers recognize the potential for AI to significantly improve communication. And some are already yielding its benefits, as shown through some of our customers:

• Reducing bottlenecks and driving time-savings: Japan Aviation Electronics (JAE), a producer of systems equipment and aerospace products,  faced challenges in communicating with overseas colleagues and clients. The sales and marketing teams struggled with translating important emails and documents. Initially using a free web translation service, they had to replace sensitive content with alternative wording, causing confusion. The IT department also faced delays in creating English documents for overseas partners, as in-house translators couldn't meet the demand. After adopting specialized AI for translation, JAE significantly improved accuracy and reduced translation time. For example, document translations that once took a day could now be completed almost instantly, enhancing operational efficiency and collaboration with overseas partners.
   
• Increased writing and communication efficiency: Panasonic Connect, a provider and producer of products for supply chain, public service, infrastructure and entertainment sectors, needed fast and highly accurate translations to communicate across borders, for use-cases ranging from improving the quality of research papers for international journals, to facilitating seamless communication across teams in different languages. Previously relying on paid editing services, they found the results were slow and costly. In the company’s shift to AI-driven tools, they improved writing quality five to six times faster than traditional methods.
   
• Building a Connected Multilingual Workforce: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems, which builds digitally connected solutions for a wide range of industries, found that as their team expanded – with employees spread out across Japan, China and Thailand – multilingual communication became a challenge. Sharing information in Japanese alone, such as notices from general affairs or finance, was no longer sufficient. To address this, Hitachi IES integrated AI-powered translation across multiple departments to break down language barriers, with employees using it for tasks ranging from email translations to translating entire PowerPoint presentations. This resulted in reported time savings of over 60%; for example, a PowerPoint slideshow that once took up to three days to create and translate can now be completed in just one day.

The Future of Manufacturing Communication

With global operations continuously expanding and accelerating, manufacturers need scalable, secure, and efficient AI services to enable their workforces. AI-powered translation and writing tools not only reduce costs and potential errors but also open doors to global markets. Ultimately, the application of AI for global communication ensures companies can remain competitive in an increasingly multi-national market. With AI, manufacturing without borders is no longer a vision, it’s becoming a reality.