News and Insights
Rheem, General Motors Named Top Winners in 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Competition
Rheem’s Alan Machuga was named 2026 Manufacturing Leader of the Year, while General Motors won Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year. Pure & Gentle earned Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year in the Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
Managing Data Complexity with Trusted Hybrid AI
A hybrid approach combining generative and symbolic AI brings control and explainability when interpreting complex, real-world data.
MLC Plant Tour: An Up-Close Look at Kohler’s OT/IT Integration
MLC members toured Kohler’s new 1-million-square-foot Arizona smart factory, learning how OT/IT integration, wireless networking and automation support bathtub production and warehouse operations.
Building An AI Governance Framework for the Factory Floor
AI governance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Learn the five key pillars manufacturers need to confidently scale AI.
Dialogue: Building Rheem’s AI-Ready Future
Joe Palomba shares how Rheem aligned leadership, process and data to build a connected AI-ready enterprise.
Engendering Technology Trust in Physical and Agentic AI
Manufacturers adopting physical and agentic AI must build trust in reliability, security, and safety. Success depends on safe operating boundaries and preserving human accountability in AI-driven processes.
Orchestrating Material Handling with AI & Automation
AI, automation, virtualization and secure IT/OT orchestration can turn material handling constraints into scalable competitive advantage. A unified digital foundation helps manufacturers reduce risk, unlock data and optimize operations across the enterprise.
Building an OT Organization in an IT World
Manufacturers need intentional IT/OT structures to clarify ownership, automate workflows, and close capability gaps. A future-ready organization should fit company size, talent access, and evolving digital needs.
Manufacturing Leadership Council Announces Finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards
Manufacturing Leadership Council named finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards and Partners in Collaborative Innovation, recognizing digital transformation leaders across the manufacturing sector.
Survey: GenAI Adoption Surges In Manufacturing
Manufacturers are rapidly adopting generative AI, with 71% already using it and nearly 90% planning to expand use in two years. Most have corporate AI policies, though maturity remains early amid data and skills challenges.
Practical AI Steps to Build Smarter Factories in 2026
AI is helping factories improve speed, resilience, and profitability by embedding digitization and automation into daily workflows. Successful 2026 pilots start with business outcomes, use ready data, and scale through human-in-the-loop governance.
Dialogue: Leading Manufacturing Through AI Change
Rockwell’s Blake Moret says manufacturing must urgently adopt AI and smart manufacturing, with supportive policy and a learning culture, to stay competitive amid tariffs and supply chain risks.
Survey: Smart Factories Enter the Execution Era
Manufacturers say smart factories have moved into an execution era, with AI maturing, digital transformation becoming a competitive advantage, and more than 90% planning to maintain or increase investments in 2026.
The Best of Executive Dialogue
2025 Executive Dialogue highlights how manufacturing leaders are using AI, Industry 4.0 and digital culture to drive transformation, build talent, and prepare for the future.
MLJ December 2025 – Research Survey Recap
MLC’s 2025 surveys show manufacturers advancing digital maturity, AI, data and smart factories, while tariffs, legacy systems, skills gaps and weak data governance continue to slow progress.
Smart Factories, AI, Supply Chains and Data: MLC’s 2025 Surveys
MLC’s 2025 surveys show manufacturers advancing digital maturity, AI, and data use, but facing hurdles from legacy systems, data gaps, workforce resistance, and supply chain disruption.
Exploring Digital and Physical Convergence at Eclipse Automation
MLC members toured Eclipse Automation’s iPort to see digital twins, AR/VR demos, and shop-floor innovation in action. The event highlighted how digital transformation and automation are accelerating factory design and production.
Digital Manufacturing in Action at GM’s Cadillac Plant in Tennessee
GM’s Cadillac plant in Tennessee uses robotics, AI and automation to improve safety, quality and efficiency, including battery inspections and a robot installing seats on a moving line.
Mastering Manufacturing Data for Real Advantage
Manufacturers generate vast data, but fragmented systems and weak governance limit its value. A staged approach focused on reliability, ownership, and monitoring turns data into faster, more confident decisions.
5 Key Questions on the Path to Industrial DataOps
Industrial DataOps helps manufacturers turn siloed data into real-time insights, improving agility, continuous improvement, and smart manufacturing. A data product strategy and unified standards can scale value across factories, supply chains, and future AI needs.
