Smart factories represent a leap from traditional automation to fully connected and flexible systems. The system provides continuous access to data from connected operational and production systems to understand and adapt to new requirements. A truly smart factory integrates physical, operational, and human capital across the system to drive manufacturing, maintenance, inventory tracking, digitalization of operations through digital twins, and other types of activities across the manufacturing network. The result may be more efficient and agile systems, less production downtime, and a greater ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in the plant or across the network, further improving market competitiveness.