The smart factories of Industry 4.0 are set to spark a revolution in the manufacturing industry, and Belgian companies are set to take full advantages of their prime location and access to international markets, alongside the well-educated, multi-lingual workforce.

The benefits of smart factories are almost impossible to overestimate – not only will they speed up production process and reduce costs, they also allow for the production of personalised items for individual consumers.

It is no surprise that Belgian manufacturers are highly interested in this new technology. A recent study by Price Waterhouse Coopers Belgium (PwC) showed that 83% are actively looking at how to implement the Industry 4.0 concept in their business and operational strategy.

To lay the groundwork for these ´smart factories´ manufacturers are investing heavily in new software used to monitor and operate production processes. The requirements of manufacturing execution systems (MES) will be completely different for a smart factory.