Quantum Technologies Key Opportunities for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains 2025

What is the quantum imperative?1 Quantum technologies are unlocking new industrial capabilities where classical systems fall short. The manufacturing and supply chain sector is experiencing its most turbulent period in decades, with disruption now being the norm rather than the exception. In 2024, global supply chain disruptions rose by 38% year-over-year, driven by extreme weather, geopolitical tensions and labour strikes.4 The Panama Canal drought cut transit capacity by 33%, delaying shipments by up to two weeks and adding an estimated $1.1 billion in annual transport costs.5 In Europe, a summer heatwave caused over $10 billion in losses, forcing factory shutdowns and triggering shortages across food and consumer goods.6 Meanwhile, cybersecurity threats against industrial organizations surged 87%, with manufacturing as the top target, accounting for 69% of ransomware attacks and causing significant disruptions to operations.7 Amidst the global phenomena, the pace of technological change is accelerating, bridging the gaps in real-time decision-making, cross-functional orchestration and industrial cybersecurity. Leaders are now called to operate not only as production experts but also as stewards of complex digital ecosystems – balancing efficiency with resilience, performance with transparency and growth with responsibility. These challenges, rooted in immense complexity and vulnerability, are precisely where quantum technologies offer a new paradigm of solutions. The potential of quantum technologies (quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum security and communications) is becoming increasingly relevant, not as a distant or academic pursuit, but as a powerful new set of tools that could unlock competitive advantage in precisely those domains where conventional technologies are reaching their limits. Figure 2 illustrates the key areas where quantum is advancing, highlighting their potential strategic impact on industrial operations, along with the critical enablers that are essential for driving successful adoption and integration. In 2024, global supply chain disruptions rose by 38% year-over- year, driven by extreme weather, geopolitical tensions and labour strikes. 5 Quantum Technologies: Key Opportunities for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains