These Discoveries are available only to Advanced SciTech members. For information on membership, please contact us Discoveries focus on specific science and technology innovations that address today’s critical business issues and challenges. These brief yet detailed profiles highlight innovations across the world's leading companies, start-ups, universities, institutes, and the entire R&D ecosystem and leverage the Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results (SOAR) framework to analyze the innovations’ rationale and possible benefits. The insights will help you understand the themes shaping science and technology development, enhance your R&D, strengthen strategies, comprehend the developer landscape, and identify best practices for your product pipelines.

Smart manufacturing, the cornerstone of Industry 4.0, empowers factories to think, adapt, and act autonomously. Yet, most enterprises remain stuck in a loop of fragmented insights, rigid automation, and siloed systems. Systems of Execution (SoE) offer the missing operational layer that transforms smart manufacturing from a digital aspiration into an autonomous reality. Unlike traditional Systems of Record, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), or Systems of Engagement, such as mobile dashboards and human-machine interfaces, SoE activate real-time intelligence. They autonomously orchestrate decisions and adapt workflows across the factory ecosystem, resulting in predictive, agile, and resilient manufacturing operations. This Viewpoint explores SoE’s strategic necessity in smart manufacturing and offers a blueprint for manufacturing leaders to build adaptive, intelligent, and hyper-efficient production environments. Scope Industry: manufacturing Geography: global Content In this report, we: Define SoE in the manufacturing context Identify traditional manufacturing system limitations Examine the business case for SoE in smart manufacturing Recommend a roadmap to execute the SoE vision Memberships Engineering Research and Development Sourcing and Vendor Management

This report deeply analyzes digital platforms and advanced automation technologies enabling traceability and trackability in global supply chains, with a particular focus on the chemicals, materials, and agriculture sectors. It examines the convergence of digital twins, IoT cloud platforms, blockchain, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), drones, and AI-powered analytics to create transparent, predictive, and autonomous supply chain ecosystems. As regulatory pressures, operational risks, and sustainability expectations increase, these technologies are becoming key enablers of end-to-end visibility, compliance, fraud prevention, and agile decision-making. The report maps technology readiness, identifies high-impact use cases, evaluates adoption barriers, and provides strategic guidance for digital transformation. Scope Industry: chemicals, materials, agriculture Geography: global Application: real-time tracking, supply chain visibility, compliance automation, predictive logistics, warehouse robotics, digital product passports Contents In this report, we examine The role of digital platforms, automation, and analytics in traceability and trackability Technologies such as blockchain, digital twins, RPA, AGVs, drones, and AI supply chain towers Adoption roadmaps, regulatory drivers, and investment trends Use cases across chemicals, agriculture, and manufacturing Challenges around integration, skill gaps, and RoI justification Industry case studies demonstrating impact

The Industry Trends reports provide industry-specific data, developments, and insights that enable global sourcing managers to navigate through the complexity and make clear and effective decisions suited to their specific industries. These reports provide detailed information on transaction activities, Global In-house Center (GIC) developments, service providers’ market shares, and key outsourcing transactions specific to particular industries. SCOPE Outsourcing transaction trends GIC market overview Service provider activity and deal information CONTENTS The Q3 2018 Industry Trends report for Manufacturing includes data and insights specific to this industry spanning: Outsourcing transaction trends by function, geography, and subvertical Outsourcing transaction activities by process and subprocesses, and type of deal (new and restructured/renewals) GIC market assessment including recent set-ups, expansions, and divestitures Transaction activity by service provider and service provider market share Significant deals signed by leading companies

The Industry Trends reports provide industry-specific data, developments, and insights that enable global sourcing managers to navigate through the complexity and make clear and effective decisions suited to their specific industries. These reports provide detailed information on transaction activities, Global In-house Center (GIC) developments, service providers’ market shares, and key outsourcing transactions specific to particular industries. SCOPE Outsourcing transaction trends GIC market overview Service provider activity and deal information CONTENTS The Q2 2018 Industry Trends report for Manufacturing includes data and insights specific to this industry spanning: Outsourcing transaction trends by function, geography, and subvertical Outsourcing transaction activities by process and subprocesses, and type of deal (new and restructured/renewals) GIC market assessment including recent set-ups, expansions, and divestitures Transaction activity by service provider and service provider market share Significant deals signed by leading companies

With automotive manufacturers facing radical disruptions, electronics and beverage manufacturers battling with negative profit margins, and others facing stringent industry regulations, the manufacturing sector is under tremendous pressure, forcing them to reduce costs while simultaneously driving investments in modern technologies to maintain their competitive advantage. Industry 4.0, with its promise of extreme automation and high efficiency, has intrigued manufacturers for many years now. However, it is the recent advancements in technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) and big data, that have empowered manufacturers to adopt Industry 4.0 rapidly. While cost savings and improving customer experience are the top priorities while making digital investments, over 50% of manufacturers have adopted digital technologies to create new business models. Manufacturers are also realizing that investing in technology alone is not sufficient. A strong digital culture supported by new & improved processes, cybersecurity policies, and even new business models are essential to maximize the returns from their digital investments. The Digital Pinnacle Enterprises™ in the manufacturing sector are leading the market in the successful adoption of Industry 4.0. Over 80% Digital Pinnacle Enterprises™ in the manufacturing sector have invested in digital technologies to evolve their business processes and drive their digital strategy. Through this report, we deep dive into these organizations and analyze the factors that set them apart from other manufacturers and what the industry can do to keep up. This report offers an in-depth review of the key capabilities encompassing 18 key dimensions in which manufacturers are making digital investments, and a further evaluation of five key dimensions where Digital Pinnacle Enterprises™ in the manufacturing sector showcase higher maturity. This report will cover the following: Factors that set the Digital Pinnacle Enterprises™ apart Key digital adoption trends Digital investments and growth priorities for retailers Recommendations for retailers to thrive in this wave of digital disruption Membership(s) Digital Services

The Industry Trends reports provide industry-specific data, developments, and insights that enable global sourcing managers to navigate through the complexity and make clear and effective decisions suited to their specific industries. These reports provide detailed information on transaction activities, Global In-house Center (GIC) developments, service providers’ market shares, and key outsourcing transactions specific to particular industries. SCOPE Outsourcing transaction trends GIC market overview Service provider activity and deal information CONTENTS The Q1 2018 Industry Trends report for Manufacturing includes data and insights specific to this industry spanning: Outsourcing transaction trends by function, geography, and subvertical Outsourcing transaction activities by process and subprocesses, and type of deal (new and restructured/renewals) GIC market assessment including recent set-ups, expansions, and divestitures Transaction activity by service provider and service provider market share Significant deals signed by leading companies

The Industry Trends reports provide industry-specific data, developments, and insights that enable global sourcing managers to navigate through the complexity and make clear and effective decisions suited to their specific industries. These reports provide detailed information on transaction activities, Global In-house Center (GIC) developments, service providers’ market shares, and key outsourcing transactions specific to particular industries. SCOPE Outsourcing transaction trends GIC market overview Service provider activity and deal information CONTENTS The Q3 2017 Industry Trends report for Manufacturing includes data and insights specific to this industry spanning: Outsourcing transaction trends by function, geography, and subvertical Outsourcing transaction activities by process and subprocesses, and type of deal (new and restructured/renewals) GIC market assessment including recent set-ups, expansions, and divestitures Transaction activity by service provider and service provider market share Significant deals signed by leading companies

The Industry Trends reports provide industry-specific data, developments, and insights that enable global sourcing managers to navigate through the complexity and make clear and effective decisions suited to their specific industries. These reports provide detailed information on transaction activities, Global In-house Center (GIC) developments, service providers’ market shares, and key outsourcing transactions specific to particular industries. SCOPE Outsourcing transaction trends GIC market overview Service provider activity and deal information CONTENTS The Q2 2017 Industry Trends report for Manufacturing includes data and insights specific to this industry spanning: Outsourcing transaction trends by function, geography, and subvertical Outsourcing transaction activities by process and subprocesses, and type of deal (new and restructured/renewals) GIC market assessment including recent set-ups, expansions, and divestitures Transaction activity by service provider and service provider market share Significant deals signed by leading companies

The Industry Trends reports provide industry-specific data, developments, and insights that enable global sourcing managers to navigate through the complexity and make clear and effective decisions suited to their specific industries. These reports provide detailed information on transaction activities, Global In-house Center (GIC) developments, service providers’ market shares, and key outsourcing transactions specific to particular industries. SCOPE Outsourcing transaction trends GIC market overview Service provider activity and deal information CONTENTS The Q1 2017 Industry Trends report for Manufacturing includes data and insights specific to this industry spanning: Outsourcing transaction trends by function, geography, and subvertical Outsourcing transaction activities by process and subprocesses, and type of deal (new and restructured/renewals) GIC market assessment including recent set-ups, expansions, and divestitures Transaction activity by service provider and service provider market share Significant deals signed by leading companies