Industrial Intelligence: The next growth opportunity for manufacturing

This Microsoft-sponsored piece argues that manufacturers hold untapped "industrial intelligence"—accumulated know-how, operating practices, production data and business understanding—and that connecting it to physical operations via Physical AI can turn experience into scalable capability. It cites Toyota Industries cutting paint-defect analysis cycles from five days to under four hours (with a pilot reducing relevant defects by about 25%) and Rockwell Automation's Singapore plant using a maintenance copilot to cut new-worker troubleshooting training from nine months to three. It stresses responsible deployment through defined authority, safety boundaries, decision records and human intervention.