Manufacturers face critical challenges in their ongoing quest for productivity (AI-driven decision support, real-time visibility and efficiency, quality, predictive maintenance, supply chain resilience, and labor shortages) and today's fragmented IT/OT systems trap data in silos. The solution is an intentional focus on OT infrastructure (plumbing) and reusable solutions that enable seamless data and workflow integration across systems, unlocking an ecosystem of portable apps – much like Apple® and Android® did for mobile device ecosystem.
At the API layer, this fragmentation compounds: every platform, historian, and application exposes data through its own proprietary API, creating integration complexity that slows innovation. The Industrial Information Interoperability eXchange (i3X) is emerging as an answer – an open, vendor-agnostic API designed to standardize how applications interact with contextualized manufacturing data across platforms.
In this episode of Smart Manufacturing Mindset, we sat down with three members of the i3X working group to explore the vision, architecture, and real-world implications of this initiative. Together, we'll unpack how i3X aims to eliminate data silos and "API chaos," enable portable manufacturing applications, and unlock AI at scale across heterogeneous industrial systems.
Whether you are a manufacturer, systems integrator, developer, or technology provider, this conversation will provide insight into the strategic importance of interoperable manufacturing architectures and how a common API could transform the way industrial software is built and deployed and creates value.
Bonus Content: Could i3X Finally Solve Manufacturing's Interoperability Problem? Jonathan Wise also sat down with David Greenfield on the Automation World Podcast discussion to discuss all things i3X. Listen Here.
Reverse Engineering the Smart Manufacturing Mindset: CESMII’s roadmap process emphasizes culture and vision, not just tech
Written By: Amy Bryson, Contributing Lead Editor, SME
A recent Deloitte survey found that 98% of manufacturers have started a digital transformation project, yet the vast majority remain stuck, unable to scale. The culprit isn't the technology. It's that strategy and alignment get skipped in favor of jumping straight to tools and platforms.
Jim Wetzel, who leads CESMII's Smart Manufacturing Roadmap Process, says it best: "We don't even talk about technology until we're about 80% of the way through."
A new article from SME explores how the CESMII Smart Manufacturing Acceleration Roadmap Framework is helping manufacturers flip that script, starting with business outcomes, getting the right people aligned, and building a path that actually holds up.
Manufacturing Information Modeling & Namespace Foundations Course™
Building the Foundation for Smart Manufacturing
📅 April 29-30, 2026 📍 Virtual
If your organization is struggling with fragmented systems, costly integrations, and data that doesn't talk across platforms, this course was built for you.
CESMII's Manufacturing Information Modeling & Namespace Foundations Course is a 2 day (12 hours) online training course designed for controls engineers, system integrators, OT/IT professionals, and technology providers involved in building, architecting or implementing modern manufacturing data architectures, and more effective UNS solutions.
Learning Objectives:
Establish a baseline of OT & IT principles to facilitate convergence of strategic methodologies from both domains
Understand, define, and create information models and SM Profiles
Grasp the underlying principles that make information modeling impactful
Apply practical understanding and troubleshooting of OPC UA types and specifications
Implement SM Profiles in several industry-leading platforms
Recognize how the 3 SM Imperatives enable application interoperability, minimize data silos/stovepipe architectures, and lower the barriers to standardization
📅 Wednesday, April 8 • 1:15PM EST 📍 MX.0 Southeast • Greenville, SC
Smart Manufacturing is no longer an aspiration; it is a competitive necessity. As global manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve productivity, energy efficiency, sustainability, and supply chain resilience, the ability to leverage real-time operational data has become a defining differentiator. Yet many organizations struggle to move beyond isolated pilots, stalled by misalignment between business strategy, technology investments, and workforce readiness.
In this interactive session, CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute will explore why Smart Manufacturing matters now more than ever and how to accelerate your journey. Participants will examine the critical shift from tactical technology deployments to a strategic, enterprise-wide approach that integrates people, process, and technology. The session highlights Smart Manufacturing building blocks, strategy development, the synergy between Lean principles and digital capabilities, and the key failure points organizations must avoid.
Qualifying manufacturers can register for free using code CESMX0 at checkout or apply directly for a complimentary VIP ticket below.
Please note: this offer is intended for practicing manufacturers and is not applicable for vendors, consultants, or sales professionals.
Smart Manufacturing Acceleration Roadmap Professional Certification Course
📅 Tuesday, April 14 - June 9, 2026 📍 Virtual
This online certification, developed in collaboration with CESMII and RPI, prepares consultants, advisors, and innovation champions to guide manufacturers through smart manufacturing transformation using the CESMII Acceleration Framework.
You'll work through hands-on projects, build a capstone roadmap, and gain access to the SM Roadmap Professionals Community upon certification.
Curious about the program but want to see it in action before committing? This free 30-minute webinar gives you an inside look at the Smart Manufacturing Roadmap and the SMARP certification. Instructor Tim Stuart and certified professional Benjamin McGlaughlin share what the process actually looks like, the outcomes manufacturers are achieving, and how the certification is equipping professionals to lead that work.
📅 Thursday, April 16 • 10:00AM - 2:00PM EST 📍 Rockwell Automation 1201 S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) has partnered with CESMII to develop certification standards for Smart Manufacturing in Smart Manufacturing OT-IT Integration and Semi-Autonomous Intelligence.
Now, industry experts are needed to validate these standards. This is an opportunity for your organization to have input on the skills and competencies needed for today’s smart manufacturing workforce.
Your input will be used to create nationally-recognized, occupation-driven certifications. Schools and training programs will use these standards to guide their Industry 4.0, IIoT, and artificial intelligence programs.
Additionally, SACA will seek your feedback on future needs of industry and technology trends that will help shape their strategy moving forward. Benefits of Participating:
Recognition as a national leader in Smart Manufacturing, IIoT, and AI
Gain first access to state-of-the-industry skills standards
Ensure your company’s skill needs are addressed by a nationally-recognized certification
Beyond Live Data: Accessing the Full Power of Ignition's Tag Database With i3X™
Inductive Automation's Travis Cox published a breakdown of how i3X connects with Ignition's tag database, covering everything from live data and history to alarms and Smart Manufacturing Profiles, all through one standardized API.
This is the kind of ecosystem momentum we've been working toward. When platforms adopt a common interface, manufacturers stop rebuilding integrations from scratch and start building things that actually scale.
Three industry-academic-government studies on AI in Smart Manufacturing/I4.0 and CESMII’s AI-enabled application strategy with data at scale
Jim Davis (UCLA/CESMII) highlights three industry-academic-government studies on AI in Smart Manufacturing/I4.0 and CESMII’s AI-enabled application strategy with data at scale.
Conducted between 2020 and 2025, these studies provide direction and benchmarks for CESMIl's operational Al and data application strategies enabled with data information models and un-siloed data. The studies were based on interests by the Advanced Manufacturing Program, NSF, the Office of Advanced Manufacturing, NIST, and joint interests by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, DOE.
The studies address: ✅ Consistently processed Al-ready data ✅ Implementing Al-enabled applications for increased factory and supply chain productivity, performance, and precision
CESMIl enables: ✅ "Un-siloed" data (i.e. CESMIl's API initiative i3X) ✅ Data information models (i.e. SM Profiles) that can be finalized and site-approved for data sources and data qualification ✅ Data types that can be labeled and categorized for persistent interpretation, selection, reuse, validations, application certifications, and IP protections - everything in the context of the operation from which the data are collected
Read the full article to explore all three studies - two are published in the NIST Advanced Manufacturing Series (2022 and 2025) and one in the National Academies Press (2024). We highlight the most recent NIST AMS study (2025) which documents semiconductor cross-factory/cross-company technical and business experiences for increasing manufacturing productivity. Economic value points with scaled data and Al are also benchmarked.
Now Hiring: Director of IT/OT Manufacturing Solutions, Andersen Corporation
CESMII Member company, Andersen Corporation, is hiring a Director of IT/OT Manufacturing Solutions who will lead the strategic planning, implementation, and management of the digital shop floor experience including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), OT, Field Operations and Quality platforms. The role is critical in driving the seamless integration of shop floor technologies with enterprise systems to enhance manufacturing agility, product quality, and compliance with industry standards.
Longstanding CESMII member G-W Process Optimization (G-WPO) has developed an application that makes connecting to the Smart Manufacturing Interoperability Platform (SMIP) accessible to manufacturers at every level of technical sophistication. The innovation? A simplified method for generating Smart Manufacturing Profiles, making seamless, standardized data sharing between manufacturers more achievable than ever.
G-WPO principals Henry Weber and Dr. Alan Ganz see this work as a direct contribution to one of CESMII's core goals: enabling a truly universal, interoperable language across the manufacturing ecosystem. They are now looking to connect with both large manufacturers interested in further developing the application and smaller companies eager to put it to work.
This is a collaborative opportunity, not a sales pitch. G-WPO is inviting CESMII members to help shape the future of accessible Smart Manufacturing connectivity.
Interested in learning more or getting involved? Reach out directly to Dr. Alan Ganz at dralanganz@gmail.com.
CESMII takes on Hannover Messe
CESMII will be at Hannover Messe this year connecting with the global smart manufacturing community. If you're interested in exploring collaboration opportunities around i3X, the open common API for contextualized manufacturing information, reach out to info@cesmii.org to connect while we're there.
CESMII – the Smart Manufacturing Institute – has a total current investment commitment of $201M from Department of Energy funding and public/private partnership contributions, with a mandate to create a more competitive manufacturing environment in the US through advanced sensing, analytics, modeling, control, and platforms. CESMII is one of 17 Manufacturing USA institutes on this mission to increase manufacturing productivity, global competitiveness, and reinvestment by increasing energy productivity, improving economic performance and raising workforce capacity. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) is the program and administrative home of CESMII. For more information about CESMII, its history and Smart Manufacturing, visit cesmii.org.
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