A shared look at the future of industrial automation
Generative AI for manufacturing
Generative artificial intelligence will continue to evolve and will also integrate and enhance other solutions such as "Digital Twins". In addition to using AI as an assistant to access manuals and information and to simplify writing code, companies will use real-time simulations and generative AI to design, optimize and manage complex production systems, improving efficiency and reducing time of inactivity. Thanks to generative AI, it will also be possible to improve preventive maintenance strategies, encouraging the spread of new business models.
Industry 5.0: Energy Efficiency and Regenerative Manufacturing
Energy efficiency, sustainability, resilience and human-centrism are at the center of the Industry 5.0 paradigm. If the aspect linked to energy saving is central to accessing the incentives provided by the Transition 5.0 plan, companies are also focusing on the creation of resilient supply chains and production processes that not only minimize environmental impact, but which actively regenerate natural resources and reduce waste to zero. The concept of “circular economy” will be expanded to include the recovery of energy and materials, and the regeneration of the environment. The concept of Industry 5.0 will be further developed, focusing on an even closer collaboration between humans and machines, where technologies such as AI, collaborative robotics (cobots) and augmented reality (AR) will increase the capabilities of human operators. “Augmented workforce” will be a central theme, with an emphasis on the human-machine interface to improve worker well-being, safety and productivity.
Lifelong Learning Ecosystems and Skills Mobility
Upskilling and reskilling will transform into “Lifelong Learning Ecosystems”. This trend will focus on creating continuous and flexible learning paths that allow workers to develop new skills quickly. We will see a greater emphasis on “skills mobility”, with platforms that facilitate the acquisition of skills and their transferability between different roles, companies and sectors.
Cybersecurity for Smart Manufacturing
With the increasing digitalization and connectivity of smart factories, cybersecurity becomes an essential element to ensure operational continuity and the protection of sensitive data. This trend will focus on advanced cybersecurity strategies and technologies to protect the industrial ecosystem from increasingly sophisticated threats. Key themes will include the implementation of zero-trust architecture solutions, the use of AI and machine learning for proactive threat detection, the protection of OT networks and the integration of global security standards into digital infrastructures. The goal is to create a culture of safety throughout the organization, from the factory floor to the cloud.
Industrial Data Spaces and Platform Economy
The adoption of new business models will be accelerated by artificial intelligence, with a shift towards the "Platform Economy". Companies will use AI-powered digital platforms to create interconnected manufacturing ecosystems, improve collaboration between partners, and develop new revenue streams through digital services, such as manufacturing-as-a-service and mass customization.
In this scenario, Industrial Data Spaces will allow companies to manage their data in standardized ecosystems and exchange data in a secure and controlled way, preserving sovereignty over shared data, fundamental aspects for creating dynamic industrial ecosystems and promoting digital transformation on a global level .