
Value-Driven Transformation: The New Operating System for Industrial Excellence
In a world shaped by constant change, transformation is no longer optional—it's existential. Every organization is chasing the holy grail of resilience and agility through Operational Excellence programs, Digital Transformation initiatives, and, most recently, AI-led innovation. But there’s a silent truth lurking behind most of these efforts: without a sharp focus on value, transformation is destined to fall short....

Leadership in Manufacturing: Building High-Performing Teams for the Digital Era
At the core of operational excellence lies strong, capable teams empowered to adapt, solve, and lead. And in this new era, leadership in manufacturing is less about overseeing tasks—and more about enabling people to thrive in an increasingly digital ecosystem....

Tariff Turbulence: Hunting Down Invisible Inefficiencies to Protect Margins
In a flashback to 2018, the U.S. manufacturing sector is once again bracing for impact. Trump 2.0 is reintroducing sweeping tariffs—this time proposing a hike on imports from key trading partners, including China and Europe1. From automotive components to food ingredients, the proposed tariffs could affect more than $1 trillion in annual trade volume2....

Take OpEx to the Next Level: How SmarterChains’ Platform Bridges Process Improvement with Tangible ROI
Manufacturers worldwide rely on Operational Excellence (OpEx) frameworks like Integrated Work Systems (IWS), Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM to eliminate inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement. These methodologies have transformed production systems by enabling process standardization, empowering employees, and ensuring incremental improvements over time....

The 7 Deadly Sins of Modern Manufacturing
Many companies have committed one (or more) of what could be described as the 7 deadly sins of modern manufacturing....

Manufacturing's Next Step: From CoE To Ecosystem of Excellence
A CoE is a business investment: A team that develops and shares best practices and orchestrates end-to-end transformation. In SmarterChains’ experience, however, it is only a stepping stone....

MES OEE: Top 4 solutions
A review of 4 leading MES OEE solutions from SepaSoft, Cantier, Guardus Solutions and Critical Manufacturing....

Forklift Sensory Systems: 5 top solutions
Forklift Sensory Systems for Advanced Material Handling, a list with solutions from Linde Material Handling, Global Industrial, LeddarTech, Pepperl+Fuchs and Flexco Industries....

Robotic Grippers: 5 Top Technologies
5 innovative technologies for Robotic Handling via Grippers by companies like Zimmer, Robot System Products, IPR (Intelligente Peripherien für Roboter), Empire Robotics and Schmalz....

5 Innovative Edge Computing Solutions
5 top Fog and Edge Computing solutions: ClearBlade’s IoT Edge Platform, Xaptum’s Edge Network Fabric, OSIsoft ‘s PI System,Nebbiolo’s Fog Computing Platform, and FogHorn’s Lightning....

Industry 4.0 Complexity and Uncertainty – Why Some Manufacturers Thrive
Why do some manufacturing companies gain more value from Industry 4.0 than others? Because they regard the adoption of Industry 4.0 as an overall strategic business objective....

Factory Culture of the Future: A sensible guide to Adhocracy
Imagine a synergistic organization, where silos are broken by common customer-centric objectives and a transparent flow of information....

Industry 4.0 in Consumer Packaged Goods Manufacturing
Industry 4.0, above all, is opening up new and exciting pathways for companies to level up their capabilities and performance but it is also accelerating the demise of companies that cannot successfully leverage these possibilities and adapt fast enough to the changing landscapes around them....

Embracing the possibilities of Industry 4.0 in the COVID-19 era
Clearly, the time to move, to get ahead of the curve, is now by preparing and defining your future capabilities for what is next and beyond. At SmarterChains, our three-stage approach – Prepare, Define, Execute – helps manufacturers embrace the possibilities of Industry 4.0....
Ten Factory of the Future Dimensions – Your way to Industry 4.0 transformation
At SmarterChains we call these areas the 10 Factory of the Future dimensions....