Working in a competitive industry demands that you become a data-driven organization. As a technology solution provider, effectively leveraging data can unlock significant advantages, such as driving market expansion and fostering innovation. Unfortunately, all too many companies lack an analytical approach to decision-making.
As the manufacturing landscape continues to evolve, companies are increasingly looking toward technology to bolster their operations and overcome emerging challenges. To better understand the attitudes, adoption rates, and pain points manufacturers have regarding technology, ABI Research conducted The State of Technology in the Manufacturing Industry survey.
In the rapidly evolving world of discrete manufacturing, choosing the right Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software solution can make all the difference in optimizing production efficiency, quality, and overall operational performance. With so many options on the market, finding the best MES provider for your specific needs can be a daunting task. To help guide your decision-making, we’ve distilled the latest competitive ranking from ABI Research, reviewing the 18 MES software providers targeting discrete manufacturers. In this blog post, we will explore the standout capabilities and key differentiators of the top six MES vendors, providing valuable insights to help you make an informed choice.
Quality control is one of the most consequential aspects of manufacturing. We’ve seen all too many times what kind of brand damage a product recall or negative reviews can inflict on a company’s public image. This is why Quality Management System (QMS) software is a must-have in the modern manufacturing plant. A QMS solution can accommodate all your quality assurance requirements, ranging from risk mitigation to safety compliance. The market for QMS software is expected to nearly triple between 2024 and 2034—reaching a US$13.11 billion valuation.
Heavy industrial sectors like mining, forestry, construction, transportation, and manufacturing are on the verge of a major transformation. These industries face increasing challenges, such as stricter worksite safety requirements, the need to minimize downtime, and a shrinking workforce. Consequently, there's a pressing need for digital transformation that connects people, data, and equipment.
Manufacturers are expected to spend more than US$1 billion on private 5G in 2025. Growing at a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 45.7%, that number will surpass US$8.7 billion by 2030.
The business case for 4G/5G private wireless networks has been established across the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) markets, evidenced by increased adoption in recent years. Private cellular network operators offer mobile services and technical specifications focused on specific industries and regions, resulting in more tailored network deployments than what you might get with a consumer-focused operator.
Nearly 45,000 people and 900 exhibitors signed up for Automate, the largest robotics and automation trade show in North America, held in Chicago May 6-9, 2024. As a show, Automate is more focused than Hannover Messe or IMTS and, consequently, there were many automation and tooling suppliers, including ABB, Atlas Copco, and FANUC that chose this event over its larger peers.
Manufacturers leverage Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software to oversee the entire life cycle of a product, from design to disposal. A PLM solution collects various data points tied to other enterprise software applications and makes them accessible to users across manufacturing departments. These data are essential for manufacturers to optimize their production process, comply with regulations, promote employee collaboration, generate documentation, reduce quality issues, etc.
There are many PLM software solutions available, but they don’t always have the same capabilities and differ in their approach to product visibility. To help simplify the purchase decision process and provide competitive benchmarking, this blog post compares 5 renowned PLM software options from ABI Research’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Large Discrete Manufacturers competitive ranking.
Key Takeaways
- Siemens has taken the top ranking for PLM software, swapping spots with second-place PTC since the last assessment.
- Dassault Systèmes ranked third once again, with a strong PLM solution in ENOVIA.
- Autodesk and Aras traded spots, with the former ranking fourth in the 2025 assessment. Aras rounds out the top five PLM vendors.
- The inclusion of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key differentiator as it streamlines production and design processes.
- Support for Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is also a deciding factor for many large discrete manufacturers.
- The top implementing vendors of PLM solutions offer flexible deployment options (on-premises and SaaS) and allow customers to purchase the solution in multiple ways.
Why Is AI Needed for Quality Assurance?
Quality Assurance (QA) professionals deal with vast sums of data stemming from various manufacturing operations and customer complaints. Even with a Quality Management System (QMS) software solution, it is very time-consuming for QA teams to capture and document data, ensure complete traceability, and log product errors. Much of the challenge stems from the fact that legacy quality data are siloed.