Jan. 19, 2026 –
Processors, tailored to different functions within a smart factory, simplify the implementation of intelligent applications while reducing latency and power consumption.
By Stefano Lovati, embedded.com
The term “smart manufacturing” refers to the integration of digital technologies such as industrial IoT (IIoT), artificial intelligence, and data analytics into industrial processes. The physical implementation of this concept is applied in smart factories, which are the central element of Industry 4.0.
Within smart factories, different types of sensors acquire significant parameters related to the industrial process under control and the operation of the machines themselves. This information is processed and used to guide decision-making, both locally (at the edge) and remotely via a connection to the cloud. Data analytics, in turn, provide useful and concrete information, driving predictive maintenance, process optimization, improved quality, and increased efficiency.
As a result, data processing plays a primary role in smart manufacturing. Industrial applications use several types of processors, each tailored to different functions within the factory system. Microcontrollers (MCUs) and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), used for real-time control, integrate a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and peripherals on a single chip to manage precise, low-latency tasks such as motor synchronization and valve actuation.