(Yicai Global) Dec. 20 -- A new scientific and technological revolution is driving a transformation in manufacturing, experts said at the recent Fifth Forum on China’s Industry Development.

Jiang Wei, assistant dean and chief scientist at the Shenzhen Industry Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said the trend toward smart production, whether in the automotive or other sectors, is simplifying and reshaping the manufacturing process.

For example, Jiang noted that the number of core components used by new energy vehicle makers such as Tesla and Nio have decreased by about a third compared with fuel vehicles. This has a lot to do with changing production methods with the introduction of intelligent manufacturing for cars, as the share of software has increased while the demand for hardware has fallen.

“The term ‘intelligent manufacturing’ not only includes intelligence, informatization and digitalization in the production process,” said Zhang Jun, co-chief executive and partner of Shanghai Hongshang Assets Management Center. “It also refers to an integrated factory operation and maintenance mindset consisting of upstream and downstream, data, and collaboration on the operation of the supply chain.”

At present, many businesses affiliated with Huawei Technologies are developing Internet-of-Things operating systems to meet the needs of autos, farming, transport and even smart furniture. According to statistics from EO Intelligence, growth of the market for domestic operating systems will exceed 20 percent, and the market will reach CNY3.41 billion (USD489 million) in 2024. 

Editor: Tom Litting