As manufacturers race to digitalise, many find themselves stuck in the weeds:
– 30% of transformation investments fail to deliver impact
– 43% of smart production lines remain vulnerable to cyber threats
– 20% of decisions are skewed due to poor data quality
To address these pressing challenges, TÜV SÜD China convened the “TÜV SÜD Academy: Seminar on Systematic Implementation of Smart Manufacturing Transformation”, held on 20 June 2025. Centered around the theme “Standards as the Foundation, Security as the Breakthrough, Data-Driven Innovation,” the seminar offered manufacturers a roadmap to avoid common pitfalls and build transformation strategies that work—at scale, and with confidence.
The Role of Standards in Smart Manufacturing
Speakers unpacked how internationally recognised tools and frameworks are becoming essential in navigating complexity. The spotlight was on three standards shaping the future of manufacturing:
• Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) for strategic transformation planning
• IEC 62443 for robust industrial cybersecurity
• ISO 8000 for high-quality, decision-grade data
INCIT’s Contribution
At the heart of the conversation was Dr Jesmond Hong, Chief Operating Officer of the International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT). In his keynote, Dr Hong introduced the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) as a powerful prioritisation index that equips manufacturers to assess their digital maturity, map their transformation journey, and make evidence-based decisions. Through global case examples, he showed how SIRI transforms disconnected digitalisation efforts into clear, repeatable, and measurable pathways—enabling businesses to move from guesswork to grounded strategy.
The takeaway?
Smart manufacturing success isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about aligning standards, securing systems, and using the right data to lead with precision—and that starts with a structured, strategic approach.
