From Pilots to Progress: How Manufacturers Can Scale MES and Industry 4.0 Initiatives the Right Way
· Hybrid Manufacturing

From Pilots to Progress: How Manufacturers Can Scale MES and Industry 4.0 Initiatives the Right Way

At the MES & Industry 4.0 event in Porto, Jeff Winter, VP of Business Strategy at Critical Manufacturing, outlined a practical roadmap for manufacturers ready to move beyond experimentation and into scalable transformation.Start with a Purpose-Built MVPRolling out MES across multiple sites doesn’t need to be slow or resource-draining. The key is starting with a Minimum […]

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Rethinking MES Architecture for the Age of AI and Edge Computing
· Hybrid Manufacturing

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 perspective highlights a shift from monolithic platforms to flexible, edge-ready architectures designed for speed, adaptability, […]

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Subscription MES: A New Path to Digital Transformation
· Hybrid Manufacturing

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 execution systems app by app, module by module, and scaling only what works. The result […]

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Still Using Excel on the Shop Floor? Why That’s Costing You More Than You Think
· Discrete Manufacturing

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 4.0 Summit in Porto:“Excel is still the most used MES in the world.”The consequences? Missed […]

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From Execution to Intelligence: Generative AI’s Role in the Future of MES
· Hybrid Manufacturing

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 (MES)—from rule-based executors to intelligent, collaborative decision-support platforms.The conversation revealed more than future potential—it surfaced […]

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The Factory Floor Can’t Adapt Without This
· Discrete Manufacturing

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 exposed to disruptions.The problem isn’t the lack of ambition. It’s the absence of a reliable […]

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What’s Next for MES? Find Out at MESI 4.0 Summit 2025 in Porto
· Discrete Manufacturing

What’s Next for MES? Find Out at MESI 4.0 Summit 2025 in Porto

As manufacturers continue to navigate evolving demands, supply chain complexity, and fast-paced technological change, the need for scalable, intelligent, and resilient systems is front and center. The MESI 4.0 Summit 2025, hosted by Critical Manufacturing, offers a platform for manufacturing and technology leaders to explore how MES and Industry 4.0 technologies are being applied to meet these […]

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A Guide to Manufacturing Data Analytics – Why Manufacturers Need a Modern Data Platform
· Analytics

A Guide to Manufacturing Data Analytics – Why Manufacturers Need a Modern Data Platform

In the age of digital transformation, data is more than a byproduct—it’s a powerful asset. But most manufacturers are sitting on untapped potential. This white paper from Critical Manufacturing explores how modern data platforms, combined with MES systems, are reshaping industrial operations—from the shop floor to executive decision-making.Readers will gain a clear understanding of how “dark data”—the 60–90% […]

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Thriving Amid Uncertainty: How Manufacturers Are Turning Agility Into Competitive Advantage
· Discrete Manufacturing

Thriving Amid Uncertainty: How Manufacturers Are Turning Agility Into Competitive Advantage

Volatility has become the norm in global manufacturing—driven by trade tensions, shifting tariffs, talent shortages, and fragile supply chains. In this environment, agility isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a competitive necessity.That’s the focus of “Thriving Amid Uncertainty: Building Agility in the Manufacturing Industry,” a forward-looking panel sponsored by Critical Manufacturing, airing during IIoT World Manufacturing Day 2025, May 21, between 10:00 […]

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Why Manufacturers Still Struggle with Industry 4.0—and What to Do About It
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why Manufacturers Still Struggle with Industry 4.0—and What to Do About It

At a time when Industry 4.0 conversations dominate industrial trade shows and boardrooms alike, many manufacturers still miss the mark. The problem isn’t the technology. It’s how it’s being approached.Jeff Winter, a well-known voice in digital manufacturing and VP of Business Strategy at Critical Manufacturing, shared insights at Hannover Messe 2025—cutting through the jargon to […]

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AI in Manufacturing Enters Its Third Wave: The Rise of Autonomous Agents
· Artificial Intelligence

AI in Manufacturing Enters Its Third Wave: The Rise of Autonomous Agents

At Hannover Messe 2025, AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a battleground of ideas. While many vendors promise intelligence, Francisco Almada Lobo, the CEO of Critical Manufacturing, offers a structured, visionary framework for how manufacturing will truly evolve in the next five years.It starts with recognizing a shift already underway: manufacturing is entering the third wave of […]

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[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 […]

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