The term Smart Factory is at home in the fields of Industry and Factory 4.0, automation and the Internet of Things. A smart factory refers to production facilities in which machines, plants and systems are digitally networked and work largely automatically.
By using modern sensors, software and data analysis, production processes in a smart factory can be monitored and controlled almost in real time. The aim is to produce faster, more flexibly and more efficiently - while making fewer mistakes and wasting fewer resources.
An illustrative example: In a traditional factory, machines are usually operated or adjusted manually. In the smart factory, the machines communicate directly with each other. If, for example, a component is missing, the system independently orders supplies or adjusts the production plan. Employees are thus relieved and can concentrate on more demanding tasks.
The smart factory forms the core of modern industry and is an important step towards the future because it helps to save costs, increase quality and respond to customer requirements more quickly. Companies that rely on this technology gain decisive competitive advantages.
Deutsch 
English (UK)