How will a ‘Smart Factory' adopt to the evolution from simple ‘product development' to disruptive innovation'?
User centricity in product design is already resulting in ever increasing number of variants. The only way to handle the next generation of production is to increase the flexibility and efficiency of factories through increased automation and connectedness. Smart factories will also put demands on the human capital - workers in smart factories will require higher and even new skills. Since the concept touches every dimension associated with product development and manufacturing it can be called disruptive innovation.

Can the ‘Smart Factory' optimise the supply chain for a win-win situation?

Yes, not ‘can' but it ‘will'. Pull principles of lean manufacturing will be even more effective in the highly connected supply chain environments. Big Data will help identify value blockers and opportunities for constant optimisation. Cloud connectivity will enable faster and better reporting and decision making.

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