A production line is a series of successive operations performed in a factory where materials go through a refining process to create the final product. The result can be a part of a finished product or part of a larger product that needs to be assembled in order to attain the final result.

"Smart" factories integrate several advanced technologies to improve the manufacturing process. Automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, and analytics are all technologies that transport industrial players into the era of intelligent manufacturing.

Because intelligent manufacturing is based on big data, companies need to create an IT environment to analyze production line data where large amounts of valuable information can be stored. Sensors attached to factory equipment extract data for which can only be used and accessed via a stable system.

Creating a dynamic production line ecosystem allows manufacturers to simplify operations while also providing them with flexibility.