In the era of smart technology, we're witnessing a transformation in manufacturing through unmanned production lines, internet-connected "private-ordered" refrigerators, and AI-driven home design. As the trend toward smart systems accelerates, traditional manufacturing is facing challenges in keeping up with this evolution.
What does the future of smart factories look like? How can Chinese manufacturing not only catch up but also lead the global shift toward intelligent production? Recently, a group of top experts from both academia and industry gathered to share their latest insights on artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing, exploring ways to build China's competitive edge in this new landscape.
**Unmanned: Smart Manufacturing Is Not Empty**
At a smart manufacturing demonstration site in Jiangsu, the number of workers on the production line has significantly decreased. Gone are the days of chaotic scenes as materials are distributed, assembled, and packaged. However, does this mean that smart factories are completely empty? Experts clarify that this is a common misconception.
Wolfgang Walst, CEO of the German Artificial Intelligence Research Center, explains that Industry 4.0 is not about full automation, but rather about "combined production." He emphasizes that the next phase of industrialization will focus on large-scale, personalized manufacturing—where products are made in small batches, frequently, and even tailored to individual needs. This demands real-time adjustments and automated planning.
“Machines and humans must work together. Machines need to recognize human actions and follow a set of rules,†Walst said. He highlights three key areas for smart manufacturing: real-time production balance, predictive maintenance, and the use of machine learning and deep learning to enable automatic planning and design.
**Digitization: Data Integration Enables Machines to Learn**
A high-tech sorting system at a courier company processes thousands of parcels every hour, scanning, identifying, and positioning them with 99% accuracy. This is just one example of how digitization is transforming smart factories.
Experts agree that in a smart factory, all devices and products are connected via the Internet of Things, and operations are managed through product memory. Hans Uskert, dean of the Infinite Institute of Artificial Intelligence and academician of the European Academy of Sciences, explained that when a product enters the production line, the machine automatically knows what to do without being reprogrammed. The machine learns through the product itself.
“While many companies focus on internal digitization, the more important task is integrating internal and external data,†Uskert noted. Gao Baowei, executive vice president of the Qingdao Haier Institute of Industrial Intelligence, shared that Haier has developed an industrial internet platform centered around end users, enabling seamless collaboration across design, manufacturing, and procurement to quickly respond to customer demands.
**Standardization: Building a Technical Foundation for “China’s Smart Manufacturingâ€**
Industry experts point out that current smart manufacturing equipment in China often relies on system integration, using foreign hardware and software to meet specific production needs. However, this approach lacks a solid technical foundation, leading to passive development.
Shi Shengjun, vice president of the HIT Group, argues that domestic manufacturers should first establish industry alliances and develop standardized systems. By focusing on scenario-specific applications, they can improve the digitalization and automation levels of production equipment.
He suggests strengthening exchanges with advanced manufacturing nations like Germany, particularly through personnel exchanges to absorb and adapt foreign technologies. At the same time, China should create successful examples in suitable application scenarios and promote joint efforts to drive smart manufacturing forward.
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