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The Factory in 2026: Technologies That Changed the Way Things Are Made
Manufacturing technology continued to advance throughout 2026 as factories adopted more connected machinery, automation, robotics, intelligent software and energy management systems. Artificial intelligence also began finding practical applications across inspection, maintenance and production analysis. This edition brings together the technological developments that influenced factory operations during the year, examining how machinery, software, data and people increasingly worked as parts of a connected production environment rather than as separate elements.
Editor's Note
Factory transformation rarely happens through one dramatic technological change. It develops as machinery, software, automation and operating practices improve together. Our final edition of 2026 looks across the production floor to understand the developments that influenced manufacturing during the year and how they are changing the relationship between equipment, information and people inside increasingly connected factories.
What Readers Say
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"Clean writing and good flow between articles."
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"Well-rounded summary of the year."
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"Good insights for business and plant leaders."
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"Very engaging and nicely paced."
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"Thought-provoking without being heavy."