Episode 129 – Alex Shikany, Executive Vice President, Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

“After a year defined by uncertainty — largely from tariffs — automation companies should be entering 2026 with renewed confidence and optimism.” Uncertainty in 2025 created headwinds, but as the tariff hangover lifts and companies begin adapting to challenges, 2026 is expected to be a year of momentum and growth, according to Association for Advancing Automation (A3) executive vice president Alex Shikany. Growth in automation was among several topics discussed on this special episode of the Manufacturing Matters podcast. In the episode, TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll joined Shikany for a conversation that dove into statistics, key market drivers, and the technologies and trends shaping the next phase of robotics, machine vision, and industrial automation in general.  Shikany shared his insights into growth drivers, which include warehousing and logistics, semiconductors, agriculture, food and consumer goods, construction, and non-automotive manufacturing in general. Shikany and Carroll also discussed the risk of underinvesting in automation, labor shortages, reshoring, and the recent surge in U.S. manufacturing investments. Additional topics included lights-out operations, key enabling automation technologies such as humanoids, and robot safety.  Read the transcript: https://manufacturing-matters.com/episode-129-alex-shikany-executive-vice-president-association-for-advancing-automation-a3/Learn more about A3: https://www.automate.org/ Learn more about TECH B2B Marketing: https://www.techb2b.comFollow A3 on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-advancing-automation/Follow Manufacturing Matters on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/manufacturing-matters/Follow TECH B2B Marketing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tech-b2b-marketing/Follow Manufacturing Matters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manufacturing_matterspodcast/#manufacturing #automation #manufacturingmatters #techb2b #robotics #machinevision #ai #motioncontrolSupport the show