Best of LinkedIn: Smart Manufacturing CW 23/ 24

Smart manufacturing momentum is shifting from experimentation to deployment. The strongest themes are industrial AI, digital twins, connected data foundations, robotics, and ecosystem partnerships that move factory operations closer to autonomous, data-driven execution.

Date

June 17, 2026

Smart Manufacturing

Thomas Allgeyer

Methodology: Every two weeks we collect most relevant posts on LinkedIn for selected topics and create an overall summary only based on these posts. If you´re interested in the single posts behind, you can find them here: https://linktr.ee/thomasallgeyer. Have a great read!

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If you prefer listening, check out our podcast summarizing the most relevant insights from Smart Manufacturing CW 23/ 24:

Industrial AI & Autonomy

Industrial AI moves deeper into factory operations, spanning visual inspection, predictive maintenance, forecasting, order processing and field service support
SAP Business AI, Siemens, Sanofi and Capgemini highlight a broader shift toward autonomous manufacturing and AI-augmented operators
Agentic AI gains relevance in engineering and operations, with tools such as the Eigen Engineering Agent moving from recommendations toward task execution
The main focus shifts from AI ambition to measurable plant-level outcomes and decisions improved by AI

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Digital Twins & Simulation

Digital twins evolve from static models into live operating systems combining real-time data, control feedback and machine learning
Dassault Systèmes positions virtual twins as tools to validate production changes before physical implementation
Cyber-physical systems support real-time compliance, traceability, statistical process control and prevention of non-conformances
NVIDIA-linked physical AI narratives connect simulation, digital twins and accelerated computing as the foundation for smarter factories and autonomous systems

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Data Foundations & Industrial IoT

Toyota’s HiveMQ on AWS case underlines secure industrial IoT messaging as a core layer for smart manufacturing
AVEVA and AWS expand collaboration around operational data, AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, digital twins and agentic workflows
Rockwell Automation and Cognite focus on turning operational data into actionable insight through DataMosaix
PTC Orbit addresses fragmented product data by connecting PLM, ERP, CRM, IoT, EAM and field service data into a unified asset record

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MES, PLM & Shop-Floor Software

Siemens Opcenter introduces an MCP Server and shop-floor AI agents, signalling a move toward AI-native MES execution
SAP Digital Manufacturing strengthens shop-floor control through SFC-Based Dispatching in Resource Orchestration
Rockwell’s Plex platform is selected by Zinkteknik to support standardized and scalable manufacturing operations
PTC expands AI across product lifecycle tools, including requirements, semantic search, configuration, engineering and service workflows

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Robotics & Physical AI

FANUC integrates NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Isaac GR00T and Jetson Thor to advance simulation-trained, AI-powered robotics
Genesis AI introduces humanoid robot Eno with dexterity, tactile sensing, onboard cameras and a dedicated foundation model
Humanoid robotics is positioned for early deployment in structured environments such as factories, warehouses, hospitals and logistics hubs
Elmia Automation showcases flexible AI-driven robotics for quality inspection, detection, gripping and multi-product handling

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Partnerships & Ecosystem Expansion

Intel and Hitachi partner to bring AI into smart factories, critical infrastructure, energy grids, rail networks and edge automation
Siemens and Intel deepen collaboration across chip design, PLM, digital twins, predictive maintenance, energy optimization and quality management
Siemens and North Rhine-Westphalia collaborate on a planned defence production launch centre with digitalization, automation, smart manufacturing and cybersecurity capabilities
ABB Cellier and Berger Paints advance automated factory operations in Bangladesh, covering blending systems, process automation, quality and efficiency

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New Products & Innovation Signals

PTC launches Orbit and Jetstream to improve product data intelligence, asset visibility and collaborative product review
Siemens Opcenter prepares new shop-floor AI capabilities through MCP connectivity and AI agents
MAESTRO CMM receives recognition for faster measurement, stronger traceability, easier automation and shop-floor usability
TRUMPF technologies are linked to precise and efficient production of data center components, highlighting manufacturing relevance beyond traditional factory settings

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Operating Model & Competitiveness

Smart manufacturing maturity is increasingly framed as a scaling and execution challenge rather than a technology discovery challenge
Manufacturers focus on reducing operational complexity before adding more digital tools
Factory-of-the-future narratives position AI-enabled plant upgrades as a route to productivity gains and competitiveness
Human-centered manufacturing remains central, with robotics, AI, AR, VR and exoskeletons augmenting human work rather than replacing operational judgment

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