Connecting the dots of smart manufacturing and networking

Most Asia Pacific (APAC) organizations are either getting involved or already invested in smart manufacturing; 48% are just beginning their digital journey, while 45% have already adopted it. After all, smart manufacturing seamlessly augments digital business models’ resilience, making it a logical solution to a global economy marked by supply chain disruptions, inflation, and talent shortages. By 2027, 60% of APAC-based manufacturers will enhance operational roles with automation technology, boosting employee engagement with a 50% increase in worker efficiency.

In 2025, Mordor Intelligence values the region’s connected manufacturing industry at US$54 billion, rising to more than $80 billion by 2029. One factor is that manufacturers are shifting operations out of China into neighboring Southeast Asian countries to save costs. Another is India’s rapid digitalization progress, which corresponds to higher engagement with industry 4.0 initiatives.

How an AI-driven network drives Industry 4.0 and beyond

Embracing Industry 4.0 is a necessary evolution for manufacturers who need adapt to an uncertain economic landscape. But what exactly is Industry 4.0? It involves the adoption of smart manufacturing, the concept of digital twins, workforce transformation, data analytics, interconnectivity, and cyber-physical systems; the use and seamless integration of these components is the key to unlocking new levels of customization and flexibility.

To find a place in this new technological frontier, proactive manufacturers must turn to AI-driven networks. Using AI here offers predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, real-time monitoring and control, improved worker safety, and improved cybersecurity. 

According to Allied Telesis’ Senior Vice President Ozawa Tsuyoshi, network AI transcends simple definition as a mere algorithm.

“The ultimate end goal is to achieve zero downtime. Nobody has done that, but it is, without a doubt, the future of manufacturing,” he said. “This isn’t just a dream—this is what we offer with Network AIOps, so that businesses can redefine their future on their own terms. It’s nothing short of revolutionary, not just as technological innovation, but as an entire paradigm shift for what manufacturing can truly be.”

The requirements of smart networking

But with so much noise around AI, it can be challenging for manufacturers to identify the right technology for their business. A good networking solution should have the following features:

• Zero downtime as a necessity to maximize benefits; an always-on network means greater output, more data, and business continuity in the face of unknown circumstances.
• Environmental resilience against harsh conditions and remote locations, which ensures business continuity regardless of the situation.
• Streamlined workload for your IT team that frees up resources; an easy-to-use AI solution will give you a bird’s eye view of all operations and accelerate your digital transformation journey.
• Self-healing properties to bolster security means safer, more stable operations; given today’s ever-changing threat landscape, it’s critical to have a solution that includes features like auto-recovery and proactive maintenance.

With smart networking like Allied Telesis’ Network AI, manufacturers can expect industry-leading features that can take their businesses to new heights. The first is network planning, which combines historical traffic patterns, future demand predictions, and optimization of network resources to enhance network design and capacity planning. Meanwhile, smarter configuration management helps automate tasks like provisioning and policy management—reducing manual errors to ensure consistency and optimal performance.

When it comes to ensuring quality of service for critical applications, manufacturers can rely on the enhanced performance monitoring feature to gather real-time insights from network and traffic. Improved traffic engineering will further strengthen the user experience by enhancing traffic routing and network resource allocation while reducing congestion.

And in a climate where the threat landscape is more sophisticated than ever before, Allied Telesis Network AI has security embedded within the network. This provides users with real-time threat identification and mitigation to ensure the fastest and most efficient response to malware attacks and threat containment.

To learn more about how Allied Telesis can work for your business, click here.