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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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 Factory Playbook: Actionable Insights for C-Level Manufacturing Leaders,” delivers critical insights for manufacturing leaders looking to […]
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Digital transformation is a top priority for manufacturers—but executing it without disrupting daily operations remains one of the toughest challenges in the industry. Downtime is expensive. Retraining teams is resource-intensive. And implementing new systems while maintaining output often feels impossible.IIoT World has published a new white paper: “How to Execute Digital Transformation Without Disrupting Your Production,” developed […]
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For many industrial organizations, the edge has long been treated as a fixed, isolated part of operations. But as digital transformation initiatives scale—and artificial intelligence, analytics, and cybersecurity concerns intensify—this view is rapidly becoming outdated.Erik Nordmark, Co-founder and CTO at ZEDEDA, emphasizes that today’s industrial edge must be dynamic and software-defined. In his view, the […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Virtual • Dec 10–11, 2025
Free registration now open — limited tickets!