Smart Manufacturing
Smart manufacturing describes how Industry 4.0 technologies (industrial IoT, cloud computing, AI, and the like) are applied within manufacturing operations and production. Our research helps readers understand the current and future market landscape of smart manufacturing, including technologies and the vendors supplying them.
Smart manufacturing market reports and other insights
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Design & Engineering Software Adoption Report 2026
From $2,000.00 -
Industry 4.0 & Smart Manufacturing Market Report 2026–2030
From $5,000.00 -
Digitalization of Industrial Drives – Adoption Report 2025
From $2,000.00 -
Digital & AI in Industrial Robotics Insights Report 2025
From $2,000.00 -
Industrial AI Market Report 2025-2030
From $5,000.00 -
Industry 4.0 Case Studies from Leading Manufacturers 2025
From $2,000.00 -
Hannover Messe 2025—the latest Industrial IoT/Industry 4.0 Trends
Subscriber exclusive -
Industrial Automation Projects Report and Database 2025
From $1,000.00
Latest smart manufacturing research articles
IMTS 2026 recap: A new industrial AI tech stack is forming
In short IMTS 2026 drew 91,295 registrants. North America's largest manufacturing technology show grew 2.6% on 2024 and, for the first time, had a dedicated Industrial AI Arena. A new industrial AI stack is forming. Based on more than 30 interviews at the show, IoT Analytics sees knowledge graphs, AI agents, and new interfaces such as MCP forming a stack that the traditional ISA-95 automation...
The AI trust gap in design and engineering software
In short 87% of engineering decision-makers expect AI to be embedded in their core design and engineering software, according to IoT Analytics' Design & Engineering Software Adoption Report 2026. While they see value in activities like simulation preprocessing & results interpretation and documentation & requirements generation, they show low trust in AI handling decisions, such as...
7 lessons manufacturers can learn from automakers in the era of software-defined everything
In short A software-defined-everything revolution is currently changing hardware technology architectures. Automotive OEMs are leading this revolution with 80%+ of carmakers actively building software-defined vehicle architectures. Manufacturers and industrial automation companies are further behind in adopting software-defined architectures and can take 7 lessons from the automotive SDV...
60+ emerging industrial digital technologies you should have on your radar (2026 update)
In short IoT Analytics identified 64 industrial digital technologies that those working in industrial operations should have on their radar: 21 in AI & ML, 18 in automation & robotics, 13 in IoT hardware & connectivity, and 12 in cloud, software, & security. Of the 64 technologies on the radar, 18 are considered to be fairly mature. Many technologies are further out and still...
The top 10 industrial automation trends—as seen at SPS 2025
In short The IoT Analytics research team updated its list of top 10 industrial automation trends after attendance of SPS (the Smart Production Solutions fair) in November 2025 . IoT Analytics had a team of 4 analysts in attendance, together producing a 79-page event report. Key standout trends based on observations and extensive interviews with industry experts on-site include: Software-defined...
OT cybersecurity: How IT/OT convergence and AI are changing security architectures
In short While industrial executives often cite AI and IT/OT convergence as the most promising future developments, these technologies create new and complex cyber attack surfaces. IoT Analytics’ 49-page OT Cybersecurity Insights Report 2026 identifies several trends related to IT/OT convergence and AI integration affecting OT security, with 5 discussed in this article:1. The shift to hybrid...
Our view on smart manufacturing
Smart manufacturing is the use of digital and automation technologies to improve manufacturing operations across the value chain. It comprises (A) core smart manufacturing technology stack elements, (B) supporting technologies, and typically results in solutions/use cases that make production environments more responsive, interoperable, and better suited to improving key operational KPIs such as OEE.
Our smart manufacturing research stream covers the core elements:
1. Connected industry building block
- Hardware, such as chips, sensors or gateways
- Connectivity protocols and services
- Hosting environments, IoT platforms, and data analytics & AI
- Applications that are built on top of the software layer
- Cyber security technologies and methods used throughout the stack
- Systems integration, connecting systems both vertically and horizontally
2. Disruptive trends
The technologies and standards which are being be altered or replaced by disruptive trends caused by I4.0 technologies.
3. Supporting technologies
Six technologies frequently deployed alongside the connected industry building blocks to support the I4.0 key use cases.
- Additive manufacturing (AM)
- Augmented and virtual reality
- Stationary, humanoid, and autonomous mobile robotics
- Machine vision
- Drones/UAVs
- Self-driving vehicles
4. Key use cases
Use cases implementing connected industry and/or supporting technologies, such as process automation and asset performance optimization.
5. Adoption strategies
OEMs, factories, and industrial automation suppliers are all leveraging I4.0 technologies to differentiate themselves in the market.
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