Welcome to the Thinking Factory: How AI is Giving MES a Brain

By Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO, Critical Manufacturing

MES today is still largely an executor, collecting data, guiding, and controlling manufacturing operations with precision. But the recent evolution of AI Agents is poised to transform it from a rule-based executor into a true thinker. Your future MES will analyze, adapt, and optimize in real time.
In a definitive step toward the Industry 4.0 vision, AI is reshaping MES, allowing it to move beyond simply following instructions to making intelligent decisions. This session will explore how, very soon, MES will evolve from being the backbone of factories to becoming their brain as well.

This presentation was featured at the MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit, held on June 12-13, 2025 in Porto, Portugal.

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