Feature

Smart, precise and productive: Supporting the factory of the future

Here, James Watson, Renishaw’s Industrial Metrology Applications Manager, explores how smart developments are helping manufacturers achieve higher performance, greater flexibility and more efficient production at scale, while responding to broader industry trends and challenges in skills, supply chains and environmental performance.

02/02/2026 11:55:03

Deloitte’s 2025 Smart Manufacturing Survey found that there is widespread and growing confidence that smart manufacturing and operations will be indispensable to productivity and enterprise growth. 92 percent of manufacturers surveyed said that they believe it will be the main driver for competitiveness over the next three years.

A parallel trend is the rising expectation for production systems to accommodate frequent design changes without sacrificing quality. Customisation and shorter product cycles becoming standard across many sectors, from automotive to medical. As such, manufacturers are prioritising tools that maintain process control even when volumes, part geometries or production schedules fluctuate.

Industry surveys and case studies consistently highlight flexibility, adaptability and digital integration as top priorities when selecting new technologies.

This move towards flexible production can be found, for example, in shop floor environments where product variety, rapid design changes and demanding machining capabilities require measurement systems that are fast, accurate, and simple to use.

Read the full article in DPA's February 2026 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.