F010: The Autonomous Factory Era

Autonomous manufacturing is no longer theoretical - companies such as Hadrian and Machina Labs are demonstrating tightly integrated production environments where execution is controlled in real time and deviations surface immediately. Yet many traditional facilities remain reliant on systems that report performance without governing it.
This presentation examines the architectural gap between digitization and true autonomy, introducing factory orchestration as an emerging execution layer that connects ERP systems, machines, operators, and engineering control into a coordinated, real-time environment. Drawing on examples from advanced manufacturing operations and high-mix production settings, the session will explore why execution breakdowns drive scrap and variability, how enforcing engineering intent at the point of use changes quality outcomes, and what structural shifts are required to compete with increasingly autonomous factories. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to evaluate whether their operations are merely monitored - or architected for autonomous performance.