Industrial companies are increasingly adopting advanced technologies, resulting in the emergence of digital manufacturing facilities with connected operations. Several smart technologies are driving this progress, including artificial intelligence (AI), automation, digital twins, and more.
Manufacturers are undergoing these digital transformations to stay competitive — digitally connecting their operations to optimize production. As advanced technologies become accessible, more manufacturers are implementing them, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises. Learn more about these technologies’ impact on industrial operations.
Artificial Intelligence Enhances Digital Manufacturing Technologies
AI technologies have been leading the news these past few years, including multiple articles on how they can be applied to an industrial environment. Using the digital connections already present in a facility, AI can go a step further by succinctly analyzing collected data and making recommendations to improve production performance. More advanced systems could even leverage AI proactively and make these changes autonomously.
Forging the Future of Manufacturing With AI
In this article, the head of the Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Amazon Web Services, Steve Blackwell, discusses how AI has become a practical application for manufacturers. He highlights that AI systems break the barriers between operational technology (OT) and informational technology (IT), utilizing data from both to enable manufacturers to achieve new levels of efficiency.
More industrial companies are using generative AI to achieve these benefits, but this technology is also evolving into agentic AI, which can operate independently and perform multistep workflows. Agentic AI is helping to make production operations autonomous, driving more advanced levels of digital manufacturing.
For modern manufacturers, AI is becoming essential, taking them beyond the connectivity of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and enabling improvements throughout the value chain. Autonomous systems are increasingly handling more complex tasks within industrial facilities, managing operational work and allowing human workers to focus more on creativity, strategy, and innovation.
Experimenting with AI technologies is vital for thriving in today’s digital manufacturing landscape. With the convergence of human ingenuity, autonomous systems, and advanced equipment, manufacturers can achieve unprecedented outcomes.
Advancements in Automation and Robotics
Automation technologies are foundational to digital manufacturing, providing a base for the adoption of more advanced systems. But these technologies are still advancing as well, paving the way for even more automated tech and robots throughout the factory floor.
Humanoids on the Factory Floor: The Next Frontier of Automation
Automation technologies and robots are prevalent in the country’s manufacturing sector, with proven use cases and positive track records. Now manufacturers are starting to push the boundaries of automation with humanoid robots. Similar to AI, automation is meant to complement the human workforce rather than replace it. But the ongoing skill and labor shortages in the industry have increased interest in how humanoid robots can be used for industrial operations.
However, these robots are still experimental and need more advanced functionality to truly be a viable solution for manufacturers. There also need to be humanoid options that match the industrial environment, such as wheeled humanoids that would be better suited to certain tasks in these facilities. Other challenges hindering humanoid deployment include limitations in mobility, perception, and navigation, all of which must be addressed to safely work in a facility with humans, other robots, and machinery.
Humanoid robots must be able to react to unpredictable scenarios, requiring them to have a level of AI capabilities as well. Simulation technologies are also necessary to effectively integrate humanoid robots into operations. Manufacturers who can virtually simulate their layout and operations are more likely to successfully deploy humanoid robots in an environment that is prepared for them.
Digital simulation can also improve the design of humanoid robots, advancing dexterity and physical manipulation capabilities to make humanoids feasible for the shop floor. Leveraging simulations of operations, design, and workflows enables manufacturers to validate these new automation technologies prior to making costly capital investments.
Despite limitations, it won’t be long until humanoid robots are a staple of industrial facilities, and manufacturing leaders need to start preparing for this integration. This early planning will reduce risks and lead to success in the next frontier of automation, providing an environment where humanoid robots can collaborate effectively with human workers.
Digital Twins: Investing in Simulation
With all the talk on using simulation to improve automation technologies, it’s unsurprising that there’s been a focus in recent technology news on how virtual manufacturing environments are advancing the industry. Simulation technologies play a large role in the industry’s digital transformation, helping manufacturers innovate effectively without wasting money on investments that may not work for their operations.
No Margin for Error: How Digital Twins Cut Costs
One of the foremost simulation technologies in industry is digital twins. These digital replicas of manufacturing processes, products, and systems help manufacturers accurately predict the outcomes of new operational strategies and design ideas.
This looking glass into the future allows manufacturers to explore new ideas and innovations without committing to an unknown outcome, resulting in cost savings and improved profitability. Digital twins can identify problems before they happen and minimize unpredictable scenarios on the shop floor, both of which can mitigate costly mistakes.
Additionally, pairing digital twin software with AI enables more comprehensive data analysis of virtual tests, granting manufacturers the ability to optimize prior to integration. This proactive approach eliminates rework, which at times can cost millions of dollars. With the real-time data visibility afforded by AI, digital twin simulations can also identify potential risks, not only in production processes, but also within supply chains.
The numerous applications of digital twins can seem daunting, but many manufacturers find success by focusing on one use case — a design or process — and then scaling the solution. Targeted implication of digital twin simulations equates to quick wins and measurable improvement for manufacturers, leading to a faster turnaround of their initial investment.
Similar to AI and automation, digital twins are becoming a necessary digital manufacturing technology for industrial companies, with 65% of small- and medium-sized businesses seeing benefits. When paired with other digital technologies, digital twin initiatives become even more effective and easier to scale across operations.
The Modern Digital Manufacturing Landscape
There’s an obvious theme in technology-focused news that advanced solutions are becoming a requirement for manufacturers’ continued success. And it’s not just limited to one technology — manufacturers need to invest in making their operations more digitally connected with various advanced tech offerings.
Each of these articles feature digital solutions that can help manufacturers optimize operations, but they also highlight the intersection of these technologies. AI, automation, simulation — all work together to create unprecedented opportunities for manufacturers to enhance operations and make workflows more efficient.
The digital manufacturing landscape of today is being driven by innovation and scalability, pushing manufacturers to adopt new technologies to remain competitive. All of these solutions and more are on display at the Manufacturing Technology Series — an event series taking place across four regions of the United States in 2027. Check out the locations and dates for our 2027 events and pencil them in now to experience the latest manufacturing technologies.