In 2026, industrial teams aren’t just balancing production deadlines; they’re navigating supply chain variability, rising reliability expectations, workforce constraints, and tighter compliance pressure. And across every industry SPI serves, one thing is becoming more obvious:

Inspection is no longer “support.” It’s a competitive advantage.

This report breaks down what’s happening in 2026, industry by industry, and what it means for quality assurance, maintenance, NDT, and inspection programs. 

2026 Industry Trends At-a-Glance

• Aviation demand keeps rising, pushing more MRO throughput and more inspection cycles. IATA forecasts ~4.9% passenger traffic growth in 2026 (RPK).

(Global Outlook for Air Transport in 2026 – December 2025, n.d.)

• Defense spending remains elevated globally, with NATO countries increasing spending and more members meeting the 2% threshold, accelerating production scale needs.
  (Unprecedented Rise in Global Military Expenditure as European and Middle East Spending Surges, 2025)
• U.S. electricity generation is projected to keep growing in 2026 as large-load demand (like data centers) rises, stressing reliability and maintenance programs.

(Short-Term Energy Outlook, 2025)

• Oil & gas is expected to stay productive, but with price pressure, influencing CapEx discipline and driving efficiency-first maintenance strategies.
  (EIA Forecasts U.S. Crude Oil Production Will Decrease Slightly in 2026 – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), n.d.)
• Manufacturing CapEx is expected to rise in 2026 (ISM forecasts +3%), supporting modernization and stricter inspection expectations.

(ISM Fall 2025 Semi Annual, n.d.)

• Chemical processing outlook is cautious, with slow growth projected,, but compliance and inspection demands remain high.

(US industry will see only slow growth. Tullo, 2026)

Industry-by-Industry Outlook (2026)

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Aerospace:

2026 Aerospace Outlook

• Demand remains strong, but supply chain constraints persist, putting pressure on delivery schedules.
• OEM and supplier quality pressure increases as production ramps up, especially for engines and narrowbody programs.
• Continued emphasis on throughput & defect prevention.

Budget & Investment Signals

• Expect CapEx focus on throughput, quality systems, and automation rather than “nice-to-have” upgrades (trend reflected in industry outlook reporting).
• Operational pressures impacting inspections
• Supplier variability, part shortages, and rework risk.
• High-value assemblies = low tolerance for escapes.

Aerospace NDT / QA / QC Inspections

Aerospace is a zero-defect environment. Borescope-based visual confirmation helps verify:

• Internal cavities
• Tight access assemblies
• Engine component condition checks
• Workmanship verification without teardown

Remote visual inspection (RVI) supports quick verification of internal cavities, castings, weld regions, and difficult-access components.

(UHY 2025-2026 Aerospace Industry Outlook., LLP, 2025)

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Automotive:

2026 Automotive Outlook

• Global light vehicle production is expected to edge lower amid tariffs, trade uncertainty, and uneven EV demand.
• Quality pressure rises as platforms shift and supply chains remain volatile.

Budget & Investment Signals

• Investment continues toward automation, standardization, and supplier risk mitigation (dominant theme in auto forecasts and trend analysis).

Automotive NDT / QA / QC Inspections

• Frequent design/process change = higher defect opportunity
• Supplier quality + traceability requirements increase

Automotive teams win by avoiding recalls, warranty claims, and production downtime.

Remote visual inspection (RVI) supports quick verification of internal cavities, castings, weld regions, and difficult-access components.

(Automotive Market Trends 2026: Navigating Volatility, Innovation and Opportunity, 2026)

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Aviation:

2026 Aviation Outlook

• Passenger traffic growth continues; IATA forecasts 4.9% YoY passenger traffic growth in 2026.
• The FAA forecasts a return to more typical growth rates in 2026, following strong recovery growth.

Budget & Investment Signals

• Airlines continue modernizing fleets and maximizing utilization (e.g., Delta’s 2026 outlook + widebody order).

Aviation NDT / QA / QC Inspections

Aviation is where borescopes are non-negotiable. They reduce inspection time, teardown frequency, and aircraft downtime. In 2026, there’s pressure impacting inspections:

• Higher utilization = more inspection cycles
• More engine inspections, blade checks, and maintenance documentation

Borescope use will help increase defect capture rate and documentation quality.

(Global Outlook for Air Transport in 2026 – December 2025, n.d.)

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Chemical Processing:

2026 Chemical Processing Outlook

• Growth expected to remain slow; ACC expects ~0.3% growth in U.S. chemical output in 2026.
• Deloitte highlights weak demand + overcapacity and a focus on profitability/resilience.

Budget & Investment Signals

• Investment prioritizes efficiency, resilience, and compliance rather than expansion.

Chemical Processing NDT / QA / QC Inspections

Current outlooks show operational pressures impacting future inspections:

• Corrosive environments and high-pressure systems
• Compliance requirements under TSCA/EPA scrutiny are emphasized by industry groups.

Chemical processing is inspection-heavy by nature, focusing on corrosion monitoring, piping integrity, heat exchanger checks, and vessel verification. Borescopes provide fast, non-invasive internal visibility for early defect detection.

(2026 Chemical Industry Outlook, 2025)

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Manufacturing:

2026 Manufacturing Outlook

• ISM forecasts manufacturing capital expenditures increase 3% in 2026 (after 3.5% in 2025).
• Deloitte highlights tech investments and competitiveness focus.

Budget & Investment Signals

• Spending targets automation + modernization rather than headcount growth.

Manufacturing NDT / QA / QC Inspections

There’s been a trend of labor shortages and experience gaps impacting industrial inspections. There’s a clear need for standard processes across facilities. When skills are scarce, tool reliability and repeatable inspection workflows matter more for consistent results, reduced rework, and fewer quality escapes.

(Fall 2025 Semi Annual, n.d.-b)

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Military & Defense:

2026 Military & Defense Outlook

• Global military spending reached record levels; NATO members totaled ~$1.5T in 2024 and all increased spending (SIPRI).
• More NATO members reached the 2% GDP spending target.

Budget & Investment Signals

• Increased multi-year procurement demand = supplier scaling + higher quality scrutiny.

Military & Defense NDT / QA / QC Inspections

Military & defense work demands documentation, repeatability, durability, and confidence. Borescopes are essential for non-invasive inspection of internal capabilities, assemblies, engines, turbines, and maintenance work validation. Foresight of operational pressures includes:

• Production at speed (“scale”) without sacrificing compliance
• Increased audit pressure and traceability requirements

(Unprecedented Rise in Global Military Expenditure as European and Middle East Spending Surges, 2025)

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Oil & Gas:

2026 Oil & Gas Outlook

• EIA forecasts WTI oil price averages ~$51/b in 2026 (down vs 2024), reinforcing efficiency-first spending.
• EIA forecasts a slight decrease in U.S. crude production in 2026.

Budget & Investment Signals

• CapEx remains disciplined with maintenance programs that prioritize risk reduction and uptime.

Oil & Gas NDT / QA / QC Inspections

There’s a strong pressure for industrial inspection in oil & gas due to aging assets and corrosion; reliability expectations, and downtime cost sensitivity. Borescopes help teams inspect valves, piping, tanks, heat exchangers, turbines & compressors, all without disassembly or downtime-heavy tearouts.

(EIA Forecasts U.S. Crude Oil Production Will Decrease Slightly in 2026 – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), n.d.)

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Power Generation:

2026 Power Generation Outlook

• EIA forecasts U.S. power sector electricity generation growth 1.7% in 2026, driven by large-load demand (including data centers).\
• Reliability pressure remains elevated (NERC winter reliability assessment).

Budget & Investment Signals

• Investment in reliability and grid capacity maintenance.

Power Generation NDT / QA / QC Inspections

Peak demand is rising faster than resources in key areas, thus tightening operational margins. Machinery such as turbines, boilers, and piping systems requires internal checks, early failure detection, and documentation for compliance and safety. Videoscope inspections provide rapid visibility without major disassembly.

(Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Enterprise et al., 2025)