The Digital Plant
THE DIGITAL PLANT / READING ROOMSELECTION 01 · SEPTEMBER 2026

Industrial intelligence.
From the source.

Research, factory stories, and industry perspectives worth your time. Read our brief, take an idea back to your plant, and explore the original publication.

6 selected publications5 publishers
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6 publications · Newest first

Microsoft
Industry perspective

Agentic AI for plant operations: From dashboards to decisions

Microsoft explores how AI assistants can connect engineering documents, maintenance history, and operating data. A Yara example illustrates the role of an operational digital twin in making plant knowledge easier to use.

Our engineering takeaway

Before choosing an agent, map the information an operator needs to resolve one recurring problem and define who approves its recommendations.

About this source

Vendor perspective with customer-reported outcomes; results are specific to the implementations described.

Source checked .

Read at MicrosoftPlan your first AI project
Rockwell Automation
Research report

2026 State of Smart Manufacturing Report

Rockwell's eleventh annual study examines manufacturers' adoption of digital technologies, AI, and cybersecurity. Its publisher summary describes a survey of 1,560 respondents across 17 countries, conducted with Sapio Research.

Our engineering takeaway

Use the findings to frame a discussion about your plant's data utilization, integration gaps, and readiness to scale a successful pilot.

About this source

Vendor-sponsored survey. This brief draws on the public report highlights and release announcement; respondent expectations are not guaranteed outcomes.

Source checked .

Read the publisher's release announcement ↗
Read at Rockwell AutomationBuild a transformation roadmap
Microsoft
Customer stories

4 ways AI is enabling the future of industrial work

This collection looks at how industrial companies apply AI to demanding workflows. Its ARUM example describes converting machining expertise into software that helps translate CAD designs into machine instructions.

Our engineering takeaway

Look for specialist knowledge that repeatedly delays a workflow, then ask how experienced staff could help document and validate it.

About this source

Customer stories published by the technology supplier, useful for ideas rather than independent performance comparisons.

Source checked .

Read at MicrosoftExplore industrial AI fundamentals
NVIDIA
Industry announcement

Dassault Systèmes and NVIDIA Partner to Build Industrial AI Platform Powering Virtual Twins

NVIDIA and Dassault Systèmes outline a partnership combining virtual twins, accelerated computing, and AI. Their proposed architecture spans engineering simulation, production systems, and assistants grounded in industrial knowledge.

Our engineering takeaway

When evaluating a digital twin, identify the physical behavior it must model and how your team would validate its predictions.

About this source

A partnership announcement describing intended capabilities, not an independent benchmark or proof of deployment at your plant.

Source checked .

Read at NVIDIADefine a measurable pilot
World Economic Forum
White paper

Global Lighthouse Network: Rewiring Operations for Resilience and Impact at Scale

The Forum's 2026 white paper brings together lessons from its manufacturing Lighthouse community. It focuses on operational resilience, the adoption of AI across connected operations, and the transition from local pilots to enterprise capabilities.

Our engineering takeaway

Read this when a pilot works on one line but stalls across sites: the useful questions concern ownership, people, and repeatable deployment.

About this source

Examples from selected leading sites, rather than a representative sample of every manufacturer. Summary based on the publisher's overview.

Source checked .

Read at World Economic ForumTurn the reading into a roadmap
Siemens
Factory case study

Siemens' AI powered Nanjing facility named World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse Factory

Siemens describes its Nanjing plant's response to changing orders and shorter delivery windows. The site combined digital twins, modular automation, manufacturing operations management, and AI applications in a broader transformation program.

Our engineering takeaway

Treat this as a systems example: connect production planning, execution, and feedback before attributing improvements to any single AI application.

About this source

A factory case study in a Siemens press release. Reported improvements belong to the combined transformation program.

Source checked .

Read at SiemensMeasure your production baseline