Advances in Technology and Research in Smart Manufacturing Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Smart manufacturing is entering a new era where physics-based modeling, data intelligence, digital transformation, immersive platforms, and autonomous decision making converge to redefine future industrial ecosystems. This Special Issue entitled “Advances in Technology and Research in Smart Manufacturing Systems” emphasizes five transformative paradigms—Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), Intelligent Reality, Trustworthy Large Language Models (Trust LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Agentic AI—that are reshaping how smart manufacturing processes, digital and green transformation strategies, and Industry 5.0 visions are realized.

PINNs embed governing physical laws within machine learning architectures, offering accurate, interpretable, and generalizable models for complex processes. Intelligent Reality evolves beyond conventional digital twins by incorporating 3D twins, sensor fusion, and immersive interaction, enabling collaborative environments that integrate human expertise, machine intelligence, and real-time data. Trust LLMs, enhanced with RAG, provide powerful engines for knowledge representation, semantic reasoning, and adaptive interaction, bridging unstructured data with actionable insights. Agentic AI further extends this foundation by deploying autonomous, goal-driven agents—often embodied as smart robots—capable of negotiation, coordination, collaboration, and continual learning within dynamic production environments.

Together, these technologies drive resilient, sustainable, and human-centric manufacturing. By showcasing theoretical advances, applied frameworks, and industrial case studies, this Special Issue highlights pathways that synergize digital intelligence, physical principles, and autonomous agency for advancing Industry 5.0 and accelerating the digital and green transformation of manufacturing.

Prof. Dr. Yung-Chou Kao
Prof. Dr. Guo-Hua Feng
Guest Editors

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