Intelligent manufacturing is now an urgent imperative for automotive OEMs and tier 1s, but implementing it is taking too long.

How can you get the transition back on track? Our new point of view has answers.

What is intelligent manufacturing?

Intelligent manufacturing is the application of innovative digital technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance manufacturing efficiency and responsiveness to change. With intelligent manufacturing, automotive companies can achieve Industry 5.0 readiness, integrating engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain for agility, resilience, and sustainability.

What makes intelligent manufacturing a burning issue for automotive companies?

Traditional manufacturing models cannot, on their own, cope with current needs and pressures such as:

  • Escalating complexity, with trends like electrification and mass customization demanding flexible, adaptive production systems.
  • Acute cost and efficiency pressures arising from global competition, economic tightening, and regulatory demands for sustainable manufacturing practices.
  • The rapid emergence of new materials with enhanced properties that automakers need to exploit.

Current smart factory automation and manufacturing process optimization initiatives are a great start. But to deal with these latest demands effectively, an automaker must achieve true intelligent manufacturing.

Why are companies missing intelligent manufacturing milestones?

Adopting next-generation intelligent manufacturing at speed is difficult because:

  • It requires far-reaching transformation of the business itself as well as of the technology used.
  • Companies are wrestling against unprecedented business disruption – from product proliferation to regionalization trends.
  • Most companies’ ambitions are hampered by inflexible legacy systems.

How can we turbocharge intelligent manufacturing adoption?

Our new point of view recommends a structured approach that has been proven to help companies overcome the obstacles and achieve their strategic goals. The approach is organized around 4 steps:

Rethink manufacturing strategy and processes around hyperautomation
To maintain competitiveness, companies should aim to achieve almost fully autonomous operations within the next two decades. This hyperautomation will enhance efficiency and productivity – and also bring new flexibility.

Rapidly build the data foundation needed for the journey
By fueling agentic AI, this foundation will facilitate autonomous decision-making, insights to support predictive maintenance for manufacturing, and real-time optimization across the shop floor, so that factories can become intelligent, adaptive ecosystems.

Master the technological enablers that bring together the digital and the physical
Intelligent manufacturing and hyperautomation depend on combining digital technologies with machines to create adaptive processes that continuously improve efficiency, precision, and safety. This requires mastery of technological enablers like AI in manufacturing, hyperconnectivity, and digital twins.

Create and leverage a collaborative partner ecosystem
To succeed with a transformation of this magnitude and complexity, companies must forge links with carefully chosen partner organizations. The right strategic partner can facilitate all aspects of the transformation and provide access to its own ecosystem.

Why work with Capgemini?

When it comes to intelligent manufacturing for automotive, Capgemini is ready to help you get your transformation program back on track.

We’re your ideal strategic partner because:

  • We understand your industry and the transformation it’s undergoing.
  • Our intelligent manufacturing solutions and other accelerators mean change can happen fast.
  • We offer the skills, assets, capabilities, and global reach you need.
  • We can introduce you to the other ecosystem partners you’re looking for – in fact, we probably already partner with them.
Read our PoV