The manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation. At the heart of this shift is Industry 4.0, characterized by smart factories where interconnected machines communicate and collaborate in real-time, leading to unprecedented levels of automation and data exchange.

From the advent of digital twins to the optimization of operations to the use of AI/ML for generating insights that will revolutionize production processes and supply chain logistics, these innovations are enhancing efficiency, productivity, and overall competitiveness.

And just like other industries, manufacturing companies are also grappling with hurdles that impede transformation efforts — from skills gaps limitations to lack of interoperability to managing data overload.

Leaders across all functional domains need to keep an eye on addressing critical challenges and risks of today, but the future is fast approaching. The prudent industry leader also must make the time to invest “brain cycles” in “fortification strategies” — in other words, how to build in the resilience needed to meet an emerging and ever-changing global landscape.