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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How Manufacturers Can Build Real Momentum in Digital Transformation
· Discrete Manufacturing

How Manufacturers Can Build Real Momentum in Digital Transformation

At the Automate Show in Detroit, Gregory Tink, Digital Transformation Consulting Director at Schneider Electric, shared a clear and actionable approach to industrial digital transformation—one that moves beyond buzzwords and into scalable, measurable progress.Start with Strategy, Not TechnologyToo many manufacturers jump straight into pilots or advanced technologies like AI and digital twins, bypassing the foundational work […]

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Edge AI + Intelligence Hub: A Match in the Making
· Hybrid Manufacturing

Edge AI + Intelligence Hub: A Match in the Making

In my 15 years in Industry, I haven’t seen a technology move as quickly as AI. The timeline from writing funny Haikus to showing up on the factory floor was a lot shorter than I expected.AI is exciting, but what’s hype versus what’s real? Where is it being used today? How could it be used […]

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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 […]

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Why C-Level Leaders Must Rethink Industrial Data Modeling Now
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why C-Level Leaders Must Rethink Industrial Data Modeling Now

As manufacturers scale digital transformation, one roadblock keeps appearing across plants, lines, and systems: inconsistent, fragmented, and poorly contextualized industrial data.The result? Missed insights, unreliable analytics, integration delays, and costly rework. But there is a better way.This guidebook from HighByte introduces a modern approach to industrial data modeling—not as a technical exercise but as a strategic capability that […]

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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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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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The tech backbone creating the future of infrastructure
· Smart Cities

The tech backbone creating the future of infrastructure

Connecting infrastructural ecosystems are driving smarter decisions and improving sustainable outcomes. Now we must use them to build resilient, future-ready nations, says Gary Wong, Global Segment Leader of Power, Utilities, and Infrastructure at AVEVAThe Indian state of Chhattisgarh understands ecosystems. Forests, for example, cover more than 40% of the 23,000-square-mile state. From trees to the […]

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