Webinar: Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 – Practical Pathways for Manufacturing Companies

As global competition, product complexity, and customer expectations continue to increase, manufacturers are under growing pressure to become more agile, efficient, and resilient. Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies offer significant opportunities to improve productivity, quality, flexibility, and sustainability—but successful implementation requires more than technology alone.

This webinar will provide an accessible introduction to the concepts of Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Factories, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Twins. The focus will be on practical industrial use cases demonstrating how companies have successfully applied these technologies to optimize production, logistics, planning, and decision-making.

Participants will gain insights into:

• The fundamentals of Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0;

• Real-world implementation examples from manufacturing and logistics environments;

• The role of Digital Twins, AI, data analytics, and connected systems;

• Common mistakes organizations make during digital transformation initiatives;

• Practical recommendations on how to approach digital transformation strategically and avoid costly pitfalls.

Target groups

This webinar is designed for:

• Manufacturing company managers and executives seeking to improve operational performance and competitiveness;

• Production and operations leaders responsible for efficiency, quality, and process optimization;

• Engineers and technical specialists involved in manufacturing systems, automation, and process improvement;

• Digital transformation teams leading Industry 4.0 and smart factory initiatives;

• Innovation and R&D managers exploring advanced technologies and new business opportunities;

• Supply chain and logistics professionals interested in data-driven planning and connected operations;

• Policy makers and public sector representatives supporting industrial modernization and competitiveness;

• Business support organizations, clusters, and industry associations advising companies on digital transformation;

• Academics, researchers, and consultants working in the fields of smart manufacturing and industrial innovation.

Format: 45–60 minute presentation followed by an interactive discussion and Q&A session.

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Niko Herakovič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and SMIC Novi Sad

Prof. dr. Herakovič is one of the most prominent figures in Slovenian research and expertise in industrial automation, smart factories and knowledge transfer to business. He is the Head of the LASIM laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at UL and holds the Chair of Manufacturing Technologies and Systems department. He received his PhD in 1995 from RWTH Aachen University in Germany, one of Europe’s leading technical universities. His career includes extensive experience in both academia and industry. He has worked in industry for several years and was Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (MEST) for four years. He has also been a member and chairman of various boards and professional associations at home and abroad.