Insights on CAD/CAM, CNC Machines, and Industrial Robots

While everyone discusses the future of smart manufacturing, most companies are still grappling with a fundamental question: How do you actually choose the right software to get there? In this latest industry study by Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions and EY-Parthenon teams, 350 component manufacturers across aerospace, automotive, medical, and other critical sectors were surveyed to uncover the real priorities driving software adoption in 2025. What they discovered challenges conventional wisdom about how manufacturers approach technology investments—and reveals game-changing trends that forward-thinking companies are already acting on.

The global market for computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software continued its steady expansion in 2024, driven by surging digitalization in product development and production. CAD/CAM tools have become indispensable across industries – from drafting factory layouts to programming precision machining - fueling consistent demand growth. This editorial analysis examines the market’s current size and growth trajectory, regional dynamics, leading vendors, key industry adopters, notable developments in 2024, forecasts through 2030, and the technological trends reshaping the CAD/CAM landscape.