5 Manufacturing Practices Set to Disappear by 2025

In the decade since the rise of Industry 4.0, the debate shifted from whether digital integration would pay off to how fast it will unfold. Any manufacturer that does not embed internet technologies deeply will quickly find itself out of reach of customers and suppliers. The pace of change will accelerate past our expectations, ushering in new business models just as the internet did at the turn of the millennium.

Many of the routines that are now commonplace will become relics. Below are five practices that, by 2025, are likely to be history, replaced by smarter, data‑driven alternatives.

1. Fixed Maintenance Intervals

Traditional preventive maintenance relies on rigid schedules and the replacement of parts regardless of need. By 2025, connected machines will transmit real‑time status updates and maintenance requirements, allowing maintenance teams to intervene only when data indicates a genuine issue.

2. Printed Work Instructions

Keeping paper instructions current is labor‑intensive. Future factories will deploy 3D holographic overlays that guide operators step‑by‑step, adapting the instructions to each worker’s language and skill level.

3. Variety of Operating Devices

Operators today must master multiple interfaces. In 2025, a single personalized, wireless input device will grant authorized personnel seamless access to any machine, simplifying training and reducing errors.

4. Technical Retrofitting

Retrofitting new product designs into existing lines is costly and time‑consuming. By 2025, parts will be linked to virtual twins that inform machines of required tasks, enabling automated software‑driven retrofitting without manual reconfiguration.

5. Subsequent Quality Assessments

Post‑production quality checks remain common today. Intelligent sensors and AI modules will evaluate quality in real time, flagging defects during the process, guiding operators, and automatically initiating corrective actions.

These shifts are not speculative—many are already in pilot stages across leading manufacturers worldwide. Will your organization be ready?

Agree?