Why Small Manufacturers Can’t Afford to Wait for the “Perfect” Transformation
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why Small Manufacturers Can’t Afford to Wait for the “Perfect” Transformation

At Hannover Messe 2025, the conversation around digital transformation in manufacturing felt more urgent than ever. But amid the excitement, Stephen Graham, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Nexus, offered a grounded reminder: for small and mid-sized manufacturers, the future will not be won by those with the flashiest technology—but by those who learn […]

Read more
[Booklet] Manufacturing at the Crossroads 2025: Real-World Lessons from Industrial Leaders
· Discrete Manufacturing

[Booklet] Manufacturing at the Crossroads 2025: Real-World Lessons from Industrial Leaders

What does it take to make digital transformation stick—beyond pilots, platforms, and buzzwords?At Hannover Messe 2025, the conversation around industrial transformation reached a new level of clarity—and urgency. From AI and agentic automation to modular MES platforms and resilient supply chains, one message was consistent: transformation is no longer a long-term goal. It’s a right-now […]

Read more
From Data-Driven Ambitions to Sensing Factories: A Strategic Path for AI in Manufacturing
· Discrete Manufacturing

From Data-Driven Ambitions to Sensing Factories: A Strategic Path for AI in Manufacturing

At Hannover Messe 2025, Helena Jochberger, Vice President and Global Industry Lead of Manufacturing, CGI, joined IIoT World for a timely conversation on the future of AI in manufacturing. With decades of experience guiding industrial transformation, she laid out a pragmatic roadmap for how generative AI, when implemented responsibly and supported by strong data governance, […]

Read more
Leveraging MQTT Brokers for Scalable Manufacturing Data Exchange
· Discrete Manufacturing

Leveraging MQTT Brokers for Scalable Manufacturing Data Exchange

The ability to efficiently manage and distribute data is critical for modern manufacturing operations. As factories become more digitized, the need for real-time, scalable, and flexible data communication systems has increased. MQTT brokers provide a solution that helps manufacturers streamline industrial IoT (IIoT) data exchange while reducing complexity and improving efficiency.Challenges in Industrial Data CommunicationManufacturing environments consist […]

Read more
Why Software-Defined Automation Is the Key to Industrial Progress
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why Software-Defined Automation Is the Key to Industrial Progress

As the conversation shifts from Industry 4.0 to 5.0, one problem remains unsolved: most industrial environments are running on legacy infrastructure. Machines last decades. Control systems are often 30 years old. But the demands placed on manufacturing—greater flexibility, lower emissions, workforce shortages—are growing quickly.The question isn’t whether the technology exists. It’s how to implement change […]

Read more
AI at the Edge of the Factory Floor: What’s Real, What’s Next
· Discrete Manufacturing

AI at the Edge of the Factory Floor: What’s Real, What’s Next

At Hannover Messe 2025, the excitement around industrial AI was palpable—but beneath the buzz, Ozgur Tohumcu of AWS shared a candid view of where manufacturing still lags and where AI is starting to deliver measurable value.Despite years of investment, many manufacturers are still struggling to turn decades of collected data into real-time, decision-grade insight. The […]

Read more
How Data is Rebuilding Manufacturing from the Edge Up
· Discrete Manufacturing

How Data is Rebuilding Manufacturing from the Edge Up

An industry conversation with Pugal Janakiraman, Global Manufacturing CTO at Snowflake, and Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData. Manufacturing’s Data Mindset Is ChangingManufacturers have long relied on data to understand what went wrong—after the fact. When a production line stalled, or equipment failed, teams scrambled to gather scattered information to trace the root cause. That reactive model […]

Read more
Industrial Transformation Demands More Than Technology—It Requires a Strategic Shift
· Discrete Manufacturing

Industrial Transformation Demands More Than Technology—It Requires a Strategic Shift

The manufacturing industry is at a pivotal inflection point. Amid growing complexity—geopolitical volatility, labor shortages, and a wave of technological disruption—many manufacturers are rethinking not just their systems, but their entire approach to transformation. What’s becoming increasingly clear is that technology alone isn’t enough. The companies that will thrive are those that can match innovation with […]

Read more
From Complexity to Control: Why Smart MES is the Backbone of Modern Manufacturing
· Discrete Manufacturing

From Complexity to Control: Why Smart MES is the Backbone of Modern Manufacturing

At Hannover Messe 2025, there’s one term on everyone’s lips: AI. But amidst the noise, Francisco Almada Lobo brings a clear, strategic voice to the table—cutting through the hype to highlight what actually matters in manufacturing today: control, visibility, and preparedness.For manufacturers navigating rising product complexity, volatile supply chains, and increased customization demands, the pressure […]

Read more
The Silent Barriers to Industrial Competitiveness
· Discrete Manufacturing

The Silent Barriers to Industrial Competitiveness

At Hannover Messe 2025, industrial competitiveness emerged as a dominant theme, sparking discussions beyond technology. While manufacturers continue to face rising complexity, the real constraints may not be what you expect.Barbara Frei, EVP of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, points to a combination of overlooked issues that quietly erode industrial performance: mindset, workforce readiness, and siloed […]

Read more
The Digital Twin in Automotive: The Update
· Discrete Manufacturing

The Digital Twin in Automotive: The Update

Digital twin technology, a virtual replica of physical products, processes, and environments, continues to evolve in the automotive OEM sector. It now spans the entire lifecycle of a vehicle, from research and development, engineering, and manufacturing to logistics, sales, aftersales, usage, and disposal. The integration of digital twin technology—within the broader concept of the Industrial […]

Read more
Why Digital Transformation Fails—and How to Fix It
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why Digital Transformation Fails—and How to Fix It

At Hannover Messe 2025, Friedrich Richter, Schneider Electric’s senior vice president of Services for Industrial Automation, didn’t just talk about digital transformation—he laid out why so many industrial players are still stuck in pilot purgatory. From small manufacturers to global enterprises, most are not struggling to start the journey; they’re struggling to scale it.The reality? Over 70% of companies […]

Read more