Building the Factory of the Future
Select from the four elements below to view key questions for leadership teams to consider.
Manufacturing strategy
The factory of the future is embedded directly into the global manufacturing strategy.
Network, supply, and production system
Sustainability, circularity and Industry 4.0 are
integrated with existing processes based on lean,
TPM, and Six Sigma frameworks to advance the
maturity of the network, supply, and production system.
Key enablers
IT/OT, advanced manufacturing technologies, and operations labor combine to drive the transformation of the network, supply, and production system for the factory of the future.
Operating model
The operating model brings the factory of the future to life by providing the necessary governance structures, processes, and tools.
What are the key financial, resilience, and ESG targets that directly influence manufacturing operations?
What are the requirements from the market (e.g., volumes over time, lead times, etc.)?
Which products will be manufactured where in the medium and long term, and for which markets?
What is needed to be prepared for the future (e.g., requirements for the asset and digital strategy)?
How can you best manage/optimize processes and streams in the supply chain and manufacturing network?
How can you seamlessly integrate traditional “lean” levers, sustainability and circularity, and supercharge with digital?
What does a new/updated innovative production system look like, including sustainability and Industry 4.0. How can you ensure it is future proof?
What is the overall improvement potential and gaps in your current production system?
What is the optimal IT/OT reference architecture— including hardware and software as the backbone for a digital plant—to lay the foundation for future innovation in manufacturing?
How do you set up the necessary IT/OT governance and deployment strategy?
What labor is required in the factory of the future and how do you train and/or acquire such talent?
What is the optimal digital strategy? Which manufacturing and digital technologies fulfill the ambition in the network and production systems?
What is the necessary governance structure for the factory of the future: centralized or decentralized?
How closely are targets and target deployment connected between center and plant leaders?
What is the right mix of standardization vs. local adaptation?
How will you drive the factory of the future rollout through the network all the way to the shop floor?
Which processes are necessary to bring the factory of the future to life and sustain performance over time?
Key questions
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What do the firm’s manufacturing and operating models look like, and are any given boundaries?
Manufacturing strategy
Network, supply, and production system
Key enablers
Operating model
Key questions
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