Manufacturing executives from leading pharmaceutical companies will gather in Copenhagen on 13–14 October 2026 to discuss AI, Industry 5.0, MES, digital twins, automation and the future of pharmaceutical production.
Manufacturing Journal is proud to partner with the Smart Factories Summit Europe on 6 October 2026, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London, UK.
According to recent industry research, 58% of European manufacturers have adopted Industry 4.0 technologies. Yet many are still struggling to turn adoption into measurable results. This event will bring together smart manufacturing leaders from across Europe, providing a collaborative platform to explore how emerging technologies, workforce transformation, and sustainability can be implemented at scale to create a lasting competitive advantage.
As European manufacturing is reshaped by persistent cost volatility, widening workforce gaps, and the urgent need to strengthen productivity in an increasingly competitive global market, innovators from Jaguar Land Rover, Procter & Gamble, Mars, and more will connect to share their insights and practical strategies for building future-ready Industry 4.0 operations.
The event addresses key themes, including:
Attendees will also have the opportunity to view live technology demonstrations and explore how modern digital tools can support productivity, resilience, and return on investment in today’s manufacturing environment.
Reflecting on their experience of attending an event in AMG World's Manufacturing portfolio, a Former Manager, Global Operations Analytics at Ingredion, commented: “I always walk away from these sessions with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense of energy. It’s not often you get the chance to exchange ideas so openly with digital experts and business leaders across industries. I look forward to the next event!”
Accelerate your digital transformation strategy by joining industry leaders at the Smart Factories Summit Europe.
Find out more and register using our 15% discount code PARTNER15 by visiting https://bit.ly/smafeu2026-mj, emailing
Extreme manufacturing environments leave little room for equipment failures or communication gaps. The industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) gives manufacturers real-time visibility into operations, helping them maintain productivity and reliability even under harsh conditions.
Nils Olsson, Chief Strategy Product and Customer Officer, Tacton
Buyers in today’s market expect absolute confidence in the result of their orders, along with a quick and independent process. Because of this mindset, the future of complex manufacturing sales must be both buyer-led and built for highly configurable products.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity transforms how manufacturers collect data and control equipment across factory floors. When these systems fail, production lines stall and costs escalate quickly. Addressing the common IIoT challenges requires understanding the physical, technical and security barriers that disrupt manufacturing operations.
Human-centric (Re)manufacturing in the Era of AI | Lisbon, 20th of October 2026.
LISBON, Portugal – The European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF) is pleased to announce the third edition of its flagship sectoral event, Professionals of the Future (POTF), taking place on the 20th of October 2026 at Hotel Eurostars, Parque das Nações, Lisbon, Portugal. Building on EWF’s ongoing commitment to international sectoral education and training, this year’s edition explores the theme of Artificial Intelligente (AI): “Tools, Skills and Industrial Transformation”.
Lagos, Nigeria – The inaugural Asset Integrity, Automation & Cybersecurity Conference (AIAC West Africa 2026) concluded successfully on 09–10 June 2026 at The Civic Centre, Lagos, bringing together industry leaders, technical experts, operators, and technology providers from across the oil & gas, utilities, and industrial sectors. The event established itself as a premier regional platform dedicated to advancing asset integrity, automation, operational technology, and industrial cybersecurity across West Africa.
The conference opened with welcome addresses from Dr. (Engr.) Gbenga Ayodele Owolabi, Commercial Manager, ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC), Dr. Isaac Adekanye, Past Chair, IEEE Africa Council, and Engr. Olalekan Oyeleye, Managing Director, Candid Oil, setting the tone for two days of technical excellence, industry collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
The event featured distinguished keynote addresses from Olatunde D. Gbadamosi, Executive Director Asset Management, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited, on “Achieving Operational Excellence and Maintaining Asset Integrity for Nigeria’s Energy Industry,” and Dr. Kola Fagbayi, Ex-Vice President, British Petroleum, on “Changing Landscape of Asset Integrity in Oil and Gas.” Their presentations provided valuable insights into operational excellence, infrastructure reliability, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of asset integrity in supporting the future of the energy industry.
Attendees participated in a comprehensive technical program featuring expert presentations, industry case studies, panel discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions covering asset integrity management, corrosion and coatings, cathodic protection, inspection technologies, automation systems, digital transformation, operational technology, and industrial cybersecurity. The discussions highlighted practical strategies and innovative approaches for improving safety, reliability, efficiency, and resilience across critical industrial assets.
Running alongside the conference, the exhibition showcased advanced technologies and solutions from leading industry organizations including Quomodo Systems Africa, Asset Integrity Engineering (AIE), Cenosco, Revoseal Nigeria Limited, ARRIDEX, and other technology providers. The exhibition created a dynamic environment for live demonstrations, business networking, and engagement between operators and solution providers driving the future of safer and smarter operations.
A highlight of the event was the AIAC West Africa Awards 2026, recognizing excellence, innovation, and leadership across the industry.
End User Category
Vendor Category
The event was organized by ALDRICH ENERGY in partnership with GEXPERTS Consultoria Limited, with Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) as Knowledge Partner and Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), and Women in Energy Oil & Gas (WEOG) as Supporting Partners.
AIAC West Africa 2026 successfully fostered meaningful dialogue, strengthened industry partnerships, and showcased innovative technologies that will help shape the future of asset integrity, automation, and cybersecurity across Africa’s energy sector. As the inaugural edition comes to a close, the event leaves behind a strong foundation for continued collaboration, technical advancement, and operational excellence across the region.
Manufacturing automation has been a transition of necessity. Most facilities need to output higher volumes with faster lead times while working with limited staffing resources. Smart factories could mitigate concerns with this rapid scaling, but this transition has led many workers to anticipate the trajectory of their careers.
The most effective and forward-thinking organizations are embedding automation upskilling into their digital transformations, while maintaining employee-first values to become more competitive and adaptable. These evolutions are the cornerstone of progress.
The makeup of manufacturing workforces is starting to look different. Cobots have entered the floor, assisting employees with everything from picking and placing to acquiring inventory. They keep people out of dangerous machinery and away from boring, redundant tasks.
The influx of robotic aids enables employees to learn how to use and maintain these machines. At the same time, they can embrace other job opportunities that are more high-value and fulfilling compared to repetitive, manual labor.
In the U.S., the manufacturing sector has hit a six-year low for employment, even though orders have hit a four-year high. Supplementation is necessary while keeping the human-in-the-loop element. Cobots offer workforces the opportunity to eliminate overwork and stress while accomplishing more.
These workers are augmenting their jobs rather than losing them, leading to personal growth and skill development they would not have achieved without manufacturing automation. They could embrace skills like:
Everything in a smart factory is based on data, powered by innovations like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). They inform employees how to predict maintenance needs for conveyor belts and suggest ways to improve air quality through environmental monitoring. Their range is expansive, and the workforce has a chance to learn how to read, visualize and apply the insights they gain from these numbers.
As the team’s mindset shifts from reactive to proactive and data-driven decision-making, they have more agency over their tasks. They know how to prioritize effectively and can back up their choices with data.
Manufacturing intelligence specialists and analysts are core pieces of any team now, as they use data science skills to get a more specific picture of the company’s proprietary information and anticipated performance. This eliminates the need for manual reporting and streamlines everything from maintenance scheduling to waste reduction.
Workers can gather information from all autonomous systems to respond to situations dynamically, such as:
The demand for software-focused talent is clear, as labor statistics indicate a continued rise in related roles through 2034. More people will need to know how to test, audit and analyze automation machinery for quality and security, and they can only do so if they know how to use data-driven insights.
Digital twins are simulated representations of manufacturing processes. They can show the efficacy of hundreds of thousands of square feet of lighting systems, or depict the pathways people take to deliver pallets between departments. This software and hardware can suggest productivity enhancements and process discoveries, but it is the team’s job to discern what is useful and viable.
This technology creates the need for digital twin engineers and experts in virtual processing. They could learn to configure simulations, optimizing them to have large-scale impacts on the facility. These skills are also essential for research, as universities conduct experiments and tests to perfect these technologies.
Augmented reality (AR) is another way to incorporate data and simulations into manufacturing. It is effective in scenarios like training, where workers can be guided through potentially dangerous tasks in a more realistic environment.
They can learn to change parts on a machine that only needs it once every two years, and they can witness the importance of safety without being put in danger. Employees get real-time feedback instead of relying on the limited information in a paper manual.
AR-focused training specialists and augmented workers are in demand. The best teachers will create teams that consistently foster a safe working environment and reliable, quality output. Additionally, using AR to upskill employees can save corporations thousands of dollars in training and onboarding costs. This enables them to allocate more resources to enrich their existing staff.
Data will let employees know the best time to fix a machine, rather than relying on conventional manufacturer-recommended schedules. Sometimes, this can lead to overmaintenance, which wastes money and parts.
Sensor-based technologies could inform teams and train employees to be more proactive in their repair timelines. Instead of responding to a breakdown, upskilled teams can continually optimize based on incoming information.
This visibility enables workers to learn about the machinery more intimately. They will spend less time responding to emergency downtime and more energy on diving deep into the equipment’s components and mechanics.
Eventually, this could build a crew of experienced robotics technicians or mechatronic engineers, who install, program, repair and troubleshoot automation machinery. More than 542,000 new robots were installed in manufacturing environments in 2024, indicating a need for skilled workers to oversee their operations.
While automating the floor increases throughput, incorporating these technologies into logistics is equally beneficial for staff and productivity. Automated warehouses, mobile robots and logistics platforms are the focal points of advanced and efficient operations.
Workers in these domains learn skills like automation engineering for picking machinery, logistics data analysis from warehouse software and more. The average square footage of the modern warehouse is increasing rapidly, meaning employees have to cover more ground than ever before. The accuracy and transparency of data will help them reduce human error and maintain reliable inventory, even as volume increases.
When executed correctly, the transition to manufacturing automation can be an employee-focused effort. On the surface, it may seem like the workforce is becoming dominated by robotics and sensors. In reality, people have been issued more stimulating and valuable work, learning new skills that make them competitive in the next era of industry.
Thought leaders in the sector see these opportunities as part of their investment in the technology, making it valuable for both the company’s bottom line and employees’ well-being.
Lou is the senior editor of industrial manufacturing at Revolutionized Magazine, specializing in writing about the impacts of technological advancements on the modern world of production. For over five years, he has pursued his passion for writing by providing insights into automated industry processes and sustainable manufacturing.
Physical security is essential in manufacturing environments, where facilities house valuable equipment, inventory and sensitive data while maintaining efficient operations. As facilities expand and threats evolve, existing systems can become insufficient without clear warning.
Here are some of the most common indicators that a manufacturing facility may need to upgrade its physical security systems and strategies.
Selecting a retail display partner requires evaluating far more than creative portfolios. Manufacturing capabilities determine whether displays arrive on time and support nationwide rollout schedules. The most reputable retail display design firms combine creative excellence with engineering expertise and supply chain execution to deliver successful in-store programs that drive shopper engagement and sales.
