3D Printing's Impact on the Value Chain

whitePaper | November 5, 2019

The manufacturing industry has always been shaped by technology. Today, the convergence of digital technologies with physical machinery is the primary driver of technology-led change in the sector, but there are signs that European manufacturers are slow on the uptake. To examine the opportunities and challenges this convergence presents, and to understand the role of technology executives in leading the organisational transformation required to capitalise on it, The Economist Intelligence Unit interviewed executives from three manufacturers pursuing digital transformation.

whitePaper | August 15, 2022

It is clear that for many businesses, with legacy assets and requirements for urgent investment in other areas, the goals of Industry 4.0 can seem further away than ever. Many of the smart manufacturing ideas and strategies that are discussed assume a base level of automation and integration that are much easier to achieve in greenfield sites that have be

whitePaper | October 28, 2022

Manufacturing companies can integrate all the connected resources of a process and their various business applications – enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution system (MES), product lifecycle management (PLM), and warehouse management system (WMS). They can also connect their assets, supply chain partners, and even customers through networks and the cloud.

whitePaper | February 24, 2023

Business demands have forced manufacturers to be more agile. Smart manufacturers are adopting technology, specifically digital twins, to move faster. Using a digital twin in a manufacturing environment can fast-track discovering bottlenecks, drive efficiencies, lower costs, reduce environmental footprint, and help manage risk. However, there is mystery around digital twins, from defining what they are and their strengths to the critical importance of an ecosystem approach to address the diversity of digital twin scenarios. The goal of this paper is to demystify digital twins, so more manufacturers can apply the technology and bring agility to their operations.

whitePaper | June 10, 2022

Manufacturing continues to move further into the digital age, but for many small and medium-sized shops, the concept of Industry 4.0 still seems out of reach. Many of these manufacturers understand that they need to take advantage of digitization to remain competitive, but they are not sure where to begin or what technologies they can integrate For the highest return on investment (ROI). Fortunately, relatively inexpensive turnkey digital solutions have simplified this process – and made it possible for manufacturers of all sizes to realize the benefits of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) with access to tool identification, inventory management and machine monitoring

whitePaper | May 21, 2020

We are living through a historic time, when advanced technologies continually change how a manufacturer generates value. This new digital era is the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (4IR). Companies see new technologies accelerating strategic, tech-enabled transformations. Regardless, many manufacturing companies are stuck in the proof of concept (PoC) phase or are running projects that are delivering results far from revolutionary. Add to that the COVID-19 tsunami, a crisis that changed the world in a matter of weeks. It is difficult to predict every aspect of the post-COVID-19 era, but it is already clear the world will never be the same. Even the most conservative industrial player will need to adapt to the “new normal”, with the importance of digital rapidly increasing for the entire value chain. Executives are expected to speed up digital transformation initiatives, changing the operating model forever.