Industry 4.0: Manufacturing Planning and Control System Architectures

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of Industry 4.0 is reshaping manufacturing planning and control (MPC) in unprecedented ways. As smart technologies and supply chain integration rapidly transform production systems, traditional MPC methodologies are strained. Rigid frameworks like material requirement planning (MRP) cannot enable the real-time synchronization, decentralized control, and optimization needed in Industry 4.0's complex ecosystems. This lag underscores the urgent need to re-engineer MPC for interconnected, customizable manufacturing.

In the context of volatile marketplaces characterized by the prevalence of customized products, legacy MPC focused on cost efficiency falls short. The shift toward mass customization demands flexibility that static architectures cannot provide. As supply chain boundaries blur, siloed MPC systems fail to leverage real-time data sharing and collaboration. Organizations must therefore innovate MPC to balance work in progress with agility while managing emerging risks like cybersecurity across integrated landscapes.

This Special Issue explores innovations in MPC to meet Industry 4.0’s evolving challenges. Contributions should examine forward-looking MPC frameworks, technologies, and models that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience across manufacturing and supply chains. Topics may include:

• MPC architectures leveraging Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing;
• Decentralized control systems and synchronization strategies;
• MPC and supply chain integration for real-time and data-driven collaboration;
• Data analytics for decision support systems in manufacturing;
• Sustainable manufacturing methodologies;
• Cybersecurity and data governance;
• Feasibility of manufacturing/supply chain as a service;
• Human-centered manufacturing.

By bridging theory and practice, this Special Issue aims to publish discourse on MPC innovation for the future of integrated planning and control. Insights from academia and industry can help shape MPC to unlock Industry 4.0’s myriad of possibilities.

Dr. Silvestro Vespoli
Prof. Dr. Guido Guizzi
Dr. Daniel A. Rossit
Guest Editors

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