The Factory of the Future (FoF) is not a checklist of emerging technologies to implement, nor is it a single point in the evolution of manufacturing . Rather, FoF is the embodiment and realization of Industrial Transformation (IX), encompassing a journey into new technologies and modes of operation that will affect plants globally for decades to come . FoF also does not stand alone . Its focus is inside the four walls of the factory, but its value is in creating a competitive advantage by flexibly and more cost effectively manufacturing smart and connected products that better meet the needs of consumers .
This research studies some of the technologies available today and in the near future that will drive the goals of IX . These include Digital Lean, Digital Twins, manufacturing simulation, and optimization of processes and the supply chain . A theme that is all pervasive in a FoF is data and information, driven by business process execution . We discuss the role of data – from many sources, traditional and new – changing the way we run our factories.