Best of LinkedIn: Smart Manufacturing CW 35/ 36

00:00:00: This episode is provided by Thomas Allgaier and Frennis, based on the most relevant LinkedIn posts about smart manufacturing in calendar weeks, thirty five and thirty six.

00:00:10: Frennis is a B to B market research company that supports enterprises across the smart manufacturing industry.

00:00:15: with the market, customer and competitive insights they need to navigate dynamic markets and drive customer centric product development.

00:00:23: Welcome to the deep dive.

00:00:25: Our mission today really is to cut through all the noise.

00:00:28: We want to give you a shortcut to understanding the top smart manufacturing trends, you know the key technologies and strategic insights that are Genuinely moving the needle in construction and manufacturing right now.

00:00:39: We're aiming for practical takeaways here, not just, you know, more buzzwords.

00:00:43: Exactly.

00:00:44: We spent time digging through, well, a lot of LinkedIn discussions to really distill what's truly significant.

00:00:49: So if you're looking to get a quick pulse on the industry, yeah, you're definitely in the right place.

00:00:53: Let's just jump right into what we found.

00:00:54: Okay, great.

00:00:55: Let's unpack this first major theme.

00:00:57: It takes us right into industrial AI and advanced analytics, what we're seeing.

00:01:01: and it's quite clear, is that AI isn't just stuck in the pilot phase anymore.

00:01:06: The use cases are really advancing, moving beyond just experiments to delivering real, actual line level impact on the factory floor.

00:01:16: Yeah, and what's genuinely, I think... revolutionary here is the emergence of something called agentic AI, and this idea of cointelligence.

00:01:24: Someone like Daniel Princing, for example, he highlighted how this agentic AI is fundamentally reshaping manufacturing.

00:01:30: It's not just about, you know, faster automation.

00:01:32: It's creating systems that can autonomously reason and adapt in real time.

00:01:36: Moving beyond just predefined roles, this cointelligence, I think Dr.

00:01:41: Tonja Rickert from Bosch put it really well, it offers extraordinary transformative potential.

00:01:45: We're seeing these agents boosting production ramp up, They're optimizing how the workforce is used, and even helping bridge that skills gap.

00:01:51: They empower teams with data-driven decisions.

00:01:54: I mean, imagine being able to literally talk to your AI agent.

00:01:57: It's a game changer for making complex data just instantly accessible and actionable.

00:02:03: That ability to reason autonomously.

00:02:06: Yeah, and it really does feel key.

00:02:08: and this depth of AI application.

00:02:09: It's not just for general efficiency, right?

00:02:12: Janhavi Giri also highlighted how AI agents are speeding up really complex workflows like Semiconductor design and manufacturing.

00:02:21: We're collecting measurable impact things like design productivity Manufacturing efficiency yield right from using reinforcement learning for improving cell area to these intelligent OPC assistance.

00:02:33: So we see, yeah, OLE for process control, crucial stuff.

00:02:37: Exactly.

00:02:38: And by injecting AI there, these assistants transform.

00:02:41: They're not just data conduits anymore.

00:02:43: They become smart tools that interpret and act on process data.

00:02:46: It effectively makes decades of expert knowledge, well, instantly scalable.

00:02:50: And if you connect that to the bigger picture, it leads pretty naturally to this concept of AI factories.

00:02:56: Dave Adams explained these aren't just, you know, fancy data centers.

00:02:58: They actually manufacture intelligence.

00:03:00: They run the whole AI lifecycle from getting the data into deploying models, continuous learning, the whole thing, which of course demands some serious infrastructure.

00:03:08: Steven Carlini over at Schneider Electric highlighted this critical need to rethink power and cooling.

00:03:13: Rack power demands are just surging like never before.

00:03:17: And Ali Hadari added that companies like Cool IT Systems, they're already scaling up, producing thousands of advanced CDUs.

00:03:25: cooling distribution units just to power these incredibly dense AI factories.

00:03:30: It's clear this shift also makes AI a huge lever for workflow ROI.

00:03:35: and operational excellence.

00:03:37: You have Zach Elliott in electronics manufacturing and Vicky Pearson in pharmaceuticals, both emphasizing AI's significant return on investment.

00:03:45: And the real game changer here, it seems, isn't just about small efficiency gains.

00:03:48: It's about knocking out critical pain points, things like stock outs, or enabling immediate data-driven responses when disruptions happen.

00:03:56: That directly impacts quality and scalability across these industries.

00:03:59: Which naturally brings up a pretty important question.

00:04:02: How do you scale these power AI solutions without Well, creating a whole new set of problems.

00:04:08: Stephene Piat, I think it was on an AI Frontiers episode, talked about just how critical trust and collaboration are for actually scaling AI inside an organization.

00:04:19: And Amber Robinson talked about tackling what she called the power paradox, which is, you know, the very adoption of AI is straining our energy grid.

00:04:27: Right,

00:04:27: the demand side.

00:04:28: Exactly.

00:04:29: So she advocates using AI-driven efficiency strategies to build smarter, more resilient energy.

00:04:34: infrastructure, especially as AI adoption really puts pressure on grid capacity.

00:04:39: It's about being smart about our energy use as we build all this intelligence.

00:04:43: That's

00:04:43: a crucial point.

00:04:44: Sustainability and infrastructure, they go hand in hand here.

00:04:47: And on our practical deployment note, David Rogers mentioned a new industrial AI architecture.

00:04:52: It's available now on Databricks.

00:04:54: Designed for real time performance monitoring, AI deployment, unifying governance across different tasks.

00:05:00: That sounds incredibly useful for, you know, integrated systems trying to manage all these diverse AI apps.

00:05:06: Definitely.

00:05:07: And one more really exciting development.

00:05:08: This comes from Ralph Ammon at Amazon Deep Fleet.

00:05:12: Apparently, it's the first foundation model for multi-robot coordination, trained on millions, literally millions of hours of data from their fulfillment centers.

00:05:21: Wow.

00:05:22: It's designed to predict traffic patterns, robot interactions, and increase efficiency by a staggering ten percent.

00:05:29: Ten percent?

00:05:29: Across the whole fleet.

00:05:30: Yeah.

00:05:31: That's a huge leap for orchestrating entire fleets of autonomous systems.

00:05:34: So just looking across all these fascinating developments in industrial AI, from agentic systems to AI factories, what we're really seeing is AI moving from being just a specialized tool to becoming this fundamental layer of operational intelligence.

00:05:49: It's not just about automating tasks anymore.

00:05:51: It's building systems that learn.

00:05:53: adapt, they even demand entirely new physical and digital infrastructures.

00:05:58: And that raises critical questions about scaling and energy too.

00:06:02: Absolutely.

00:06:04: Which transitions us nicely into our second big theme.

00:06:06: Let's dive into digital twin and simulation, the virtual parallel to reality.

00:06:12: What's clear here is these aren't just theoretical concepts anymore.

00:06:15: We're seeing scaled adoption for real tangible benefits across different industries.

00:06:21: Yeah, and what's really impactful is how digital twin tech is becoming, well, a game changer for CNC and machining shops.

00:06:28: You had Siemens experts like Ernst Barch, David Morley, John Meyer, all illustrating how it helps cut setup time, you know, I scrap speed up production.

00:06:37: all by letting you simulate and validate NC programs virtually first.

00:06:41: Right.

00:06:42: Bozina Iminen actually compared it to a flight simulator for your CNC machine.

00:06:46: Ah,

00:06:46: that's a great analogy.

00:06:47: It

00:06:47: really drives home that idea of risk-free testing and optimization before you even cut a single piece of material.

00:06:52: Think about the cost savings.

00:06:53: Oh, definitely.

00:06:54: Avoiding physical prototypes alone.

00:06:56: Huge savings.

00:06:57: And expanding on that, you mentioned modular twins supporting virtual commissioning and really accurate robot modeling.

00:07:03: Exactly.

00:07:04: Ali Amalik highlighted U.S.

00:07:05: CARS project with GM and Ford.

00:07:07: They're using virtual robot controllers, VRCs, to test robot programs virtually and optimize work cell layouts.

00:07:15: This directly tackles that challenge of getting truly accurate robot models for precise programming.

00:07:22: That's always been a bit of a bottleneck, you know?

00:07:24: Yeah, I can imagine.

00:07:25: And the pharma and semiconductor sectors, they're also heavily invested.

00:07:28: Jethan Tellis explained how industry leaders are using Siemens software for virtual pharma factory design, process optimization.

00:07:36: Okay.

00:07:36: And Olga Korstileva even claims that these digital strategies with digital twins and virtual modeling can cut pharma manufacturing costs by up to twenty percent.

00:07:45: Twenty percent, that's huge.

00:07:46: It

00:07:47: is huge.

00:07:47: And how?

00:07:48: By optimizing layouts, streamlining logistics, predicting outcomes, they avoid costly physical rework.

00:07:54: That impacts everything from, you know, patient access to drug affordability.

00:07:58: Okay, but are those kinds of reductions typical across the board?

00:08:02: Or is it more for specific types of facilities where digital twins really shine?

00:08:06: And what's the sort of initial investment hurdle to get there?

00:08:09: That's a fair question.

00:08:11: Initial investment is always a factor, definitely.

00:08:14: But the consensus seems to be that the long-term gains often outweigh it, especially in complex, high-value environments like Fermat.

00:08:21: Cheyenne Goman also highlighted how Siemens Digital Twin is optimizing semiconductor manufacturing for both efficiency and quality, allowing real-time tracking of every single wafer, every process, that level of granular visibility.

00:08:35: It's critical in an industry where one delay can impact millions of chips.

00:08:40: and millions in revenue.

00:08:41: Absolutely

00:08:42: critical.

00:08:42: We're even seeing big applications in warehouse and intralogistics.

00:08:47: Mukundin Govindaraj shared Amazon Robotics' new sensor workbench platform, SWB, built on NVIDIA's Isaac Sim.

00:08:54: It simulates hundreds of sensor configurations virtually, drastically cutting down physical testing time for new automation.

00:09:00: Right,

00:09:00: accelerating deployment.

00:09:01: Exactly.

00:09:01: It speeds up how quickly new automation gets rolled out.

00:09:04: But what does all this really mean for manufacturers?

00:09:06: I think it connects to this broader idea of preparedness.

00:09:09: Alex?

00:09:10: Allison, he drew on his old Boy Scout lessons actually, and defined preparedness in manufacturing as having digital continuity from design.

00:09:17: all the way to production, using digital twins to simulate processes before the first part is even made.

00:09:24: Sandeep shared how HCM used digital twin tech to literally have their design times and simulate years of production scenarios in just hours for battery manufacturing.

00:09:34: Wow, have design times.

00:09:36: Yeah, that's not just thinking ahead.

00:09:38: It's proactively shaping the future of production.

00:09:41: Talk about anticipating challenges.

00:09:42: Yeah.

00:09:43: Sandra Nielsen also shared that GKN Aerospace is using a suite of Siemens.

00:09:47: solutions.

00:09:47: Team Center, NXCAD, Simcenter, Opsetter, in their project decisive program, integrating design, simulation, manufacturing across their global operations.

00:09:56: And here's a fascinating, maybe subtle, technical detail Michael Finocchiaro brought up.

00:10:01: The complex math behind getting seamless surface continuity, like on car body panels, you know, he talked about G zero, G one, G two continuity.

00:10:09: Right,

00:10:09: the smoothness level.

00:10:10: Exactly.

00:10:11: G zero means they just meet G one, they meet and share the same tangent smooth to touch.

00:10:15: G-II.

00:10:15: they also share the same curvature, visually flawless.

00:10:17: High-quality

00:10:18: blend.

00:10:18: Precisely.

00:10:20: And startups like C-Infinity and Plastic Software LLC, they're innovating in this really technical area, pushing the boundaries of aesthetic and functional design precision.

00:10:30: So yeah, from simulating entire factories down to perfecting microscopic surface details, digital twins are clearly creating this virtual parallel to reality.

00:10:39: It drives not just efficiency, but resilience and unparalleled precision.

00:10:44: It lets manufacturers anticipate, optimize, innovate with a level of confidence we just haven't seen before.

00:10:50: Okay, moving right along.

00:10:51: Our third theme shifts focus to MES, MOM, and cloud platforms, really the backbone of modern production.

00:10:59: Just quickly for anyone tuning in, MES, manufacturing execution systems, that's the digital brain on the factory floor, managing and monitoring work in real time.

00:11:06: Right.

00:11:07: MOM, manufacturing operations management, take that a step further, optimizing the whole operational workflow.

00:11:13: So it's all about modernizing and strategically deploying these foundational systems and often now integrating them with cloud solutions.

00:11:19: And what's genuinely streamlining operations here?

00:11:22: There's a specific example from Manuel Costa.

00:11:25: SAP Digital Manufacturing now enables a simple in-routing rework loop for test and repair actions right within the main production routing.

00:11:34: This is huge because it streamlines things without needing those complex, time-consuming non-conformance protocols, which can be a massive bottleneck on the shop floor.

00:11:43: Yeah, I can see that.

00:11:44: And the benefits of cloud MES solutions?

00:11:46: They're becoming clearer and clearer.

00:11:48: Klaus Brackner showcased how SAP's cloud-based MES acts as a catalyst for agility, efficiency, innovation.

00:11:55: Vikram Mankar added that Prophecy Smart Factory Cloud MES offers cost-efficient, agile solutions, promising up to what?

00:12:02: Thirty percent reduction in software costs and faster time to value.

00:12:05: Thirty percent.

00:12:06: That's a compelling argument for moving these critical operations up to the cloud.

00:12:09: And we're also seeing these comprehensive, full-stack transformations really paying off.

00:12:14: Cyan Syringen detailed how AGIS, a major steel manufacturer, got remarkable results by digitizing their production process.

00:12:22: Used SAP solutions, worked with Deloitte.

00:12:25: They integrated real-time dashboards and cut order processing time by an incredible sixty-six percent.

00:12:32: Sixty six percent.

00:12:33: Sixty six percent.

00:12:34: That's not just an improvement.

00:12:35: It's a complete reimagining of their timeline really highlights the power of a fully integrated approach.

00:12:41: Wow

00:12:42: for anyone in manufacturing that number alone.

00:12:44: Yeah, that should make them sit up and take notice.

00:12:47: But with all these powerful platforms, a question that often comes up is vendor lock-in, right?

00:12:51: Absolutely.

00:12:52: What advice are we seeing for manufacturers looking to stay agile and avoid getting tied down?

00:12:56: That's a critical concern.

00:12:58: And it brings us neatly to strategic advice around composable architectures.

00:13:02: Maggie Sloik highlighted how this approach, especially combined with industrial AI, is reshaping operations for agility.

00:13:09: It lets manufacturers scale, innovate with new capabilities without ripping out existing systems or getting locked into one vendor.

00:13:16: Flexibility,

00:13:16: exactly.

00:13:17: And Vladimir Obreskov even shared a Q-Tech mold in machine's impressive transformation.

00:13:22: They achieved a hundred percent on-time delivery, a forty-two percent jump in sales, using the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform.

00:13:29: It really shows the real-world impact of having that flexible, modern backbone.

00:13:33: So yeah, these platforms, MES, MOM, Cloud Solutions, they're clearly the foundational digital brain, enabling the agility and integration needed to compete effectively today.

00:13:43: Okay, our fourth theme.

00:13:45: This takes us into robotics and automation, moving from point solutions to coordinated systems.

00:13:50: The trend here, it feels like a significant shift away from robots just doing isolated tasks towards much more coordinated, intelligent, and actually easier to deploy systems.

00:14:00: This is a massive shift.

00:14:02: Robert Little observed a pretty significant trend coming out of Fabtech, twenty twenty five.

00:14:05: robot programming as we've always known it.

00:14:07: It's kind of fading away.

00:14:08: Yeah.

00:14:09: Many robots now required no programming at all.

00:14:12: or very little.

00:14:13: They're moving towards things like lead-through programming, vision-guided autonomy, AI-driven digital twins.

00:14:20: all making them incredibly easy to use.

00:14:23: Think about autonomous welding systems like the inner tech classic or path robotics or part picking and CNC loading by intrinsic using AI models trained up in digital twins.

00:14:34: It's all about making robots easier to deploy, easier to manage, easier to scale.

00:14:38: That's

00:14:38: a huge step towards wider adoption, isn't it?

00:14:41: Taking some of that deep programming expertise out of the equation and building on that Ralph Ammons update again on Amazon's deep fleet.

00:14:48: It highlights their foundation.

00:14:49: model for predicting how robots interact, optimizing fleet routes.

00:14:53: That same ten percent efficiency boost again.

00:14:55: Exactly.

00:14:55: It's a big step towards more efficient, coordinated, multi-robot deployments, basically orchestrating entire robot armies to work together smoothly.

00:15:03: And here's where the human element comes back in.

00:15:05: Human-robot collaboration.

00:15:07: Dirk Schmidt described BizTech's HAL-A-L-I-II-II agentic AI.

00:15:11: It optimizes human-robot collaboration in real time.

00:15:14: right on the assembly line.

00:15:15: How does it do that?

00:15:16: It considers everything from say operator fatigue to robot calibration needs, supply data, all to enhance both productivity and safety.

00:15:27: It's really about augmentation, not just replacement, a genuine partnership.

00:15:31: Interesting, augmentation.

00:15:32: I like that.

00:15:33: And to kind of round out this theme, Arne Ray's explained RPA's role, robotic process automation, accelerating manufacturing workflows.

00:15:41: But he wisely cautioned about its limitations, you know, in scaling and integrating across really complex systems.

00:15:47: He suggested its real potential comes out when you combine it with AI.

00:15:51: Right.

00:15:51: Burton Sy also shared some insights from the Zongluan Intelligent Manufacturing Institute at Foxconn, showcasing humanoid robotics, AI-powered vision systems for really high precision detection, pushing the boundaries of what robots can do alongside people.

00:16:05: And just a quick, fascinating technical bit, Sean Dotson shared this interesting visual explanation of robot singularities using a three D speed torque plot.

00:16:14: He compared it to a black hole, a very compelling way to visualize those critical operational limits you need to avoid.

00:16:20: Huh, a black hole, off to look that up.

00:16:23: Okay, moving to our final sort of overarching theme, strategic imperatives, change management and sustainability, the broader landscape.

00:16:32: These aren't just buzzwords anymore, are they?

00:16:34: These factors are fundamentally shaping the future of smart manufacturing, demanding a really holistic approach.

00:16:41: You know, it's really not always about the tech, is it?

00:16:44: Christian Rosengren highlighted that things like cultural barriers, analysis, paralysis, just plain fear of change, those are the primary blockers for smart manufacturing adoption.

00:16:55: especially in aerospace.

00:16:56: It's not a lack of technology itself.

00:16:58: Get this, only thirty six percent of aerospace and defense companies have even started their smart factory journey.

00:17:03: Only thirty six percent.

00:17:04: Wow.

00:17:05: Yeah.

00:17:05: And Sasha Butterling's global survey, it reinforces this, reveals most manufacturers are kind of stuck between level two and level three in digital maturity.

00:17:13: Seventy five percent still rely on static tools, siloed structures.

00:17:17: Thirty five percent

00:17:18: tells you the biggest challenges are often internal, right?

00:17:20: Not external.

00:17:21: That's such a powerful insight.

00:17:22: The human element is often hardest part.

00:17:26: And it makes you wonder what actually defines a smart factory in practical terms today.

00:17:32: Jeff Winter, he was discussing an IOT analytics study, revealed that cybersecurity is the absolute top priority for over seventy five percent of manufacturers,

00:17:41: not surprising,

00:17:42: followed by scalability, focusing on that over just shiny new gadgets and critically understanding that AI isn't one size fits all.

00:17:49: That's paramount.

00:17:50: These insights really show where manufacturers are focusing their attention now, moving beyond the initial hype cycle.

00:17:56: And here's where it gets really interesting, I think.

00:17:58: The opportunities for strategic advantage.

00:18:00: Michael Oeschmuler pointed out Saudi Arabia's emerging leadership in industry four point zero, driven by huge government investments in IOT AI, big data robotics.

00:18:09: Okay.

00:18:10: This is creating enormous opportunities for European companies, mechanical engineering, automation software to collaborate and enter that rapidly expanding market.

00:18:18: Right.

00:18:19: But on the flip side of that coin, Roland Losher underscored the urgency for Europe's own manufacturing industry to embrace digital transformation.

00:18:28: Now, just to stay competitive, he noted slower productivity growth compared to the US and Asia.

00:18:34: And that only thirty percent of European manufacturers have actually scaled AI beyond pilot projects.

00:18:40: Only thirty percent.

00:18:41: It really feels like the time for just doing pilots is, well, it's over.

00:18:45: Large-scale implementation is becoming a competitive necessity.

00:18:48: I completely agree.

00:18:49: The urgency is real.

00:18:50: And, you know, it's not always about buying all new equipment, either.

00:18:53: Herman Wolner stressed that retrofitting for future viability.

00:18:56: That isn't a cost item.

00:18:57: It's a strategic lever.

00:18:58: Wow, so.

00:18:59: It enhances system efficiency, sustainability.

00:19:02: Just by upgrading outdated controllers and data landscapes, bringing legacy systems up to speed, Marco Acquati offered a great real-world example.

00:19:09: The Smart Factory in Dunevex, Hungary.

00:19:11: They use integrated lighting solutions managed by KNXD ALEI controllers for efficiency and sustainability.

00:19:17: Smart, simple upgrades.

00:19:18: Maxime Ramel further showcased Schneider Electric's digitalization work with Hulsom in Romania, getting robust reliability in continuous processes like cement manufacturing.

00:19:30: And all of this, it really brings us back to the workforce, hasn't it?

00:19:33: Alex, Allison's concept of preparedness.

00:19:36: It absolutely includes workforce empowerment through clear electronic instructions, getting it right the first time.

00:19:43: Right, first time execution,

00:19:44: crucial.

00:19:45: Michael Hofhecker emphasized that successful smart factory projects, they start by truly understanding the customer.

00:19:51: their processes, their goals, leading to tailored, efficient solutions.

00:19:56: Brian Wenick mentioned Honeywell Aerospace using digital tools to support and standardize those tier meetings with shop floor teams, improving productivity, lean manufacturing, showing how tech can empower people, not just replace them.

00:20:08: Exactly.

00:20:09: And on the crucial sustainability front, Jessica Cuevas shared the Blumenau Smart Factory's recommendation for ISO fourteen thousand one and ISO forty five thousand one recertification, emphasizing that continuous improvement in environment and occupational health and safety.

00:20:23: Richard Wilmot also highlighted that embedding AI solutions to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

00:20:29: Well, it makes economic sense too.

00:20:32: It's that win-win for both the planet and the bottom line.

00:20:35: Finally, just to wrap up, we're seeing significant investment and expansion signals.

00:20:40: These really confirm these trends are here to stay.

00:20:43: Kristen Hamley announced Schneider Electric's new smart manufacturing facility up in Scarborough.

00:20:48: A forty-two million investment.

00:20:50: Big commitment.

00:20:51: Jennifer Cannon shared Thermo Fisher's scientific acquiring, Sanofi's Ridgefield site to expand sterile fill finish manufacturing.

00:20:59: And Steven Goddard announced Honeywell Aerospace's fourteen point one million R&D program in the UK.

00:21:04: Advancing Aerospace Tech through AI and additive manufacturing?

00:21:09: Yeah.

00:21:09: These are really strong commitments to the future of smart manufacturing.

00:21:12: It shows the industry is putting its money where its mouth is.

00:21:15: Definitely.

00:21:16: Phew, what a deep dive that was.

00:21:17: We've covered.

00:21:18: Well, everything from agentic AI and virtual commissioning to composable architectures and that critical human element of change management.

00:21:26: It's clear smart manufacturing isn't just a collection of cool technologies, right?

00:21:29: Not at all.

00:21:30: It's a holistic transformation, demanding cultural shifts, strategic investment, and a focus on both people and the planet.

00:21:38: Indeed.

00:21:39: And maybe it leaves us with a provocative thought for everyone listening.

00:21:43: If the biggest barriers aren't actually technical, but cultural and organizational, what's the first unlearning your organization needs to do to really embrace this future?

00:21:53: Good question, the ponder.

00:21:55: If you enjoyed this deep dive, new deep dives drop every two weeks.

00:21:58: Also check out our other editions on digital construction and digital power tools.

00:22:02: Thank you so much for tuning in and remember to subscribe so you don't miss out on more insights.