Smart factory Stories - Page 2

Global Stories

Smart factory stories

Manufacturers turn to AI as maintenance know-how fades

Rising downtime costs are pushing factories to use AI to capture veteran technicians' know-how before retiring staff take it with them.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Tue, 16th Jun 2026

Robotics

Global wire harness market set to hit USD $173.9bn

Electrified vehicles, factory automation and renewable projects are expected to lift demand for organised wiring assemblies to USD $173.9 billion by 2036.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 11th Jun 2026

Digital Transformation

Advantech expands NVIDIA tie-up with AI factory brain

Pilot trials suggest the setup could cut factory energy use by 10% and lift assembly-line productivity by 12%.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Fri, 5th Jun 2026

Digital Transformation

Argon & Co joins QAD Redzone in global factory tie-up

Factories facing labour shortages and rising costs are set to get a new execution tool, as the firms pair consulting with frontline software.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 15th May 2026

Edge Computing

Red Hat & Panasonic preload edge software on TOUGHBOOK

Users in manufacturing and defence will get faster deployment of rugged edge devices as Panasonic bundles Red Hat software on TOUGHBOOKs.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Tue, 12th May 2026

Manufacturing

Schneider Electric joins Forum's Lighthouse OS board

The move gives the manufacturing group a role in shaping an open-source framework aimed at helping factories scale digital change beyond pilot projects.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 11th May 2026

Manufacturing

Tacton launches AI assistant to cut CPQ modelling work

Manufacturers could halve CPQ product-modelling work as staff race to digitise complex catalogues amid a shortage of specialist engineers.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 6th May 2026

Data Analytics

FPT, Intel partner on AI-driven factory optimisation

Manufacturers could cut bottlenecks and speed output as the pair link live data, simulation and AI across factory systems.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026

Manufacturing

TCS expands Google Cloud tie-up with four AI offerings

The expanded Google Cloud partnership is meant to help large firms cut AI pilot times and speed deployment across manufacturing and security.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Mon, 27th Apr 2026

Robotics

SAP unveils agentic AI tools for manufacturing supply

Manufacturers could gain faster disruption warnings and automated responses as SAP embeds AI agents into core supply chain workflows.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Tue, 21st Apr 2026

Manufacturing

TeamViewer adds AI maintenance & secure industrial gateway

Industrial users could cut downtime and cyber risk as TeamViewer’s latest update brings plug-and-play remote access and AI-guided maintenance support.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 17th Apr 2026

Software-as-a-Service

Rotary Bearings launches sensor parts with dashboard

Manufacturers could cut downtime as real-time sensor data on bearings and motors helps spot faults earlier and reduce maintenance costs.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 16th Apr 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Smart factory stories

Robotics

Private 5G looking to rewire Canada's factory floors

Private 5G aims to help manufacturers connect factory systems, automate operations and use real-time data more easily across production sites.

By Jake MacAndrew • 5 min read • Fri, 5th Jun 2026

Space

K3Metrology raises GBP £2.75m in seed funding round

The cash will fund industrial trials and early deployments of a measurement system designed to cut downtime in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 14th May 2026

Cartech

Ottawa backs Siemens battery AI R&D with CAD $23M in funding

The funding is set to safeguard thousands of jobs as Canada pushes to bolster its battery supply chain and EV manufacturing base.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Thu, 23rd Apr 2026

Manufacturing

Rockwell Automation showcases AI & digitalisation in Jakarta

Nearly 400 industrial leaders gathered as manufacturers in Indonesia weighed AI, analytics and digital tools to tackle costs and complexity.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Wed, 22nd Apr 2026

Physical AI

RobCo unveils Alfie robot for variable factory work

The new robot is aimed at factory and warehouse tasks that have long resisted automation because conditions, inputs and handling change constantly.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Mon, 20th Apr 2026

Robotics

Siemens & Humanoid test robot in factory logistics

The test could ease factory labour shortages by proving humanoid robots can handle repetitive logistics work alongside staff in live production settings.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Fri, 17th Apr 2026