Redwood City, CA – August 20, 2026 – Propel, creator of the first product value management (PVM) platform to transform how manufacturers develop, launch, and service products, today released research confirming product lifecycle management (PLM) as the central foundation for successful model context protocol (MCP)-enabled AI in manufacturing. MCP is the open standard that enables AI systems to securely connect to, and act on, data across enterprise business systems.
Commissioned by Propel Software and conducted by Talker Research, the survey polled 400 senior manufacturing professionals across high tech/electronics, industrial equipment, and medical device industries, from directors and managers to CxOs and board members, on adoption priorities, MCP readiness, and the role of product data in a connected AI strategy. Results reveal PLM is the most important system for AI actions.
MCP has crossed from early adoption into mainstream reality, and it’s being led from the top. Ninety-six percent of CxOs and 85% of board members report increased organizational interest in MCP. This signals that adoption is a strategic priority. Overall, 91% of respondents report increased interest, with 63% describing that interest as dramatic or significant.
“MCP gives AI systems a way to access data, but reach is only as valuable as the data it finds. If your product record is fragmented, outdated, or siloed, you’ve just given AI a faster path to bad answers. PLM solves that. It’s the system that keeps product knowledge current, connected, and trustworthy,” said Ross Meyercord, CEO of Propel. “This research demonstrates that manufacturers already understand the stakes and they’re planning for MCP to bridge the gap between AI and product data.”
PLM and Connected Product Data Essential for MCP Impact
Manufacturers identified PLM as the system most critical to MCP effectiveness, ranking it first in two key categories: the top business system for AI agents to access through MCP (49%), and the most valuable information for AI agents to act on (38%).
The data behind the rankings tells an equally clear story. Nearly nine in ten (89%) agree that a connected product data foundation is essential to realizing AI’s potential. Three-quarters (75%) rated it critical or very important for AI to understand relationships across product, quality, supplier, manufacturing, and customer information. The stakes of getting this wrong are significant: 66% say AI would be completely or mostly ineffective in their organization if it could not access product-related data such as requirements, bills of materials, and change history.
MCP is Already Reshaping How Business Gets Done
Over 90% have implemented or expect to implement MCP within 12 months, and over half (56%) say delayed adoption will result in higher operating costs or competitive disadvantage as the consequence of waiting. Eighty-five percent of senior leaders believe MCP will be transformational within three years, while EVPs/VPs estimate that nearly one-third of their daily business processes will be automated or influenced by MCP.
To learn more about how manufacturers are putting Propel PLM-connected AI intelligence to work, visit: Propel MCP. Propel will host a live webinar on September 24 to discuss the survey findings in detail. Register here to participate in the webinar.