Rethinking MES Architecture for the Age of AI and Edge Computing
At the MES & Industry 4.0 Summit in Porto, Adélio Fernandes, VP of Engineering and Co-founder of Critical Manufacturing, shared forward-looking insights on how MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) must evolve to meet the needs of today’s data-intensive, AI-driven factories. His
The Urgent Shift in Automotive Manufacturing: Data Ownership, Shorter Lifecycles & Trust in AI
As manufacturing becomes increasingly digital and sustainability-focused, automotive leaders are confronting new pressures that reach far beyond the factory floor. In a recent interview at the MES & Industry 4.0 Summit in Porto, Dr. Thomas Kaufmann, Executive VP & COO
Subscription MES: A New Path to Digital Transformation
What if deploying MES didn’t require a massive budget, a year-long integration plan, or buy-in from every corner of the enterprise? A growing number of manufacturers are shifting away from all-in-one MES rollouts and embracing a more agile approach—building their
Still Using Excel on the Shop Floor? Why That’s Costing You More Than You Think
Despite years of digital transformation buzz, many manufacturers still rely on spreadsheets, paper-based records, and siloed systems to run critical operations. As Augusto Vilarinho, Head of Global Sales at Critical Manufacturing, bluntly put it during the recent MES & Industry
From Execution to Intelligence: Generative AI’s Role in the Future of MES
At the second edition of the MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit in Porto, Portugal, Lucian Fogoros, Co-founder of IIoT World, spoke with Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO and Co-founder of Critical Manufacturing, about how generative AI is evolving the role of Manufacturing Execution Systems
The Connected Factory Playbook: Actionable Insights for C-Level Manufacturing Leaders
Modern manufacturers face a paradox: despite generating more data than ever, as much as 80–95% of valuable operational data remains unused. The result? Missed opportunities, fragmented visibility, and stalled digital transformation efforts. Our new executive booklet, based on the expert panel “The Connected
The Factory Floor Can’t Adapt Without This
Manufacturers are under relentless pressure to adapt—fast. But while the demand for agility is everywhere, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Most factory floors still rely on outdated systems, fragmented data, and manual workarounds that leave them
What Generative AI Is Really Changing on the Factory Floor
Forget the hype. Generative AI isn’t replacing workers or designing entire factories — yet. But it is changing what happens on the factory floor, where complexity, variability, and labor shortages meet real-time decisions. From reducing assembly errors to preserving expertise
Why Edge-to-Cloud Data Symmetry Is the Foundation of Scalable Smart Manufacturing
As manufacturers accelerate their digital transformation journeys, the limitations of fragmented data environments are becoming more visible—and more costly. The promise of smart manufacturing hinges on one capability: enabling data to move seamlessly from the factory floor to the cloud