CYBER THREATS LEAD MANUFACTURING CONCERNS

A new global survey shows cyber-attacks, environmental pressures, and social issues are now the biggest threats to manufacturing reputation.

- By Team ET Now Machinist

Reputation has become one of the most valuable assets in global manufacturing, yet also one of the most vulnerable.

The latest Manufacturing Reputational Risk Report 2024/25 reveals that the challenges facing the sector have expanded well beyond product quality. Cyber crime, climate accountability, and social responsibility now dominate the concerns of industry leaders.

The study surveyed 100 senior executives from manufacturing companies with annual revenues of more than one billion US dollars.

It found that 88 percent now treat reputation as a managed risk rather than just a branding issue, and one in four companies have linked it directly to board-level performance metrics, almost doubling from the previous year.

CYBER SECURITY EMERGES AS THE LEADING CONCERN

Manufacturing has become the most targeted industry for cyber criminals. The report highlights that 62 percent of companies ranked cyber-attacks as a top reputational risk, compared with 27 percent just a year earlier. Data from global incident tracking confirms this trend, with manufacturing now accounting for nearly a quarter of all cyber attacks worldwide, up from 8 percent in 2019.

The risks extend beyond immediate disruption of production lines. Breaches carry financial, regulatory, and brand consequences that can quickly erode customer trust. In an era of digitised supply chains, a single incident can trigger reputational fallout across markets.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE PRESSURES INTENSIFY