2012 Operations Technology Top 10 Trends

What is emerging in our conversations with manufacturers is a trend toward a profound rethinking of production models and operational processes. We are about to witness a new generation of manufacturing enterprises, where operational processes on the plant floor — at the very heart of the enterprise — are considered the centerpiece of this transformation.

This report describes IDC Manufacturing Insights' worldwide operations technology 2012 top 10 predictions.

• Prediction #1: Manufacturers will focus their operational strategies on capabilities rather than capacity
• Prediction #2: "Design anywhere, build anywhere, sell anywhere" will require the global plant floor
• Prediction #3: Manufacturers will create real-time intelligent value chains
• Prediction #4: Manufacturers will have to adopt a modern operational ERP platform
• Prediction #5: Consumer mobile handheld devices will emerge as a viable option on the plant floor
• Prediction #6: Security on the plant floor will attract significant investments
• Prediction #7: Manufacturers will extend and integrate PLM on the plant floor
• Prediction #8: Energy management and sustainability will continue to be a priority on the plant floor
• Prediction #9: Achieving "maintenance excellence" will emerge as an operational cost containment measure
• Prediction #10: The four IT forces will drive investments on the plant floor