How Germany and the United States Are Racing to Build the Factory of the Future with the Internet of Things

From sensor-laden assembly lines that reduce downtime and improve quality control to factory floors networked to automatically respond to environmental conditions in real time, the Internet of Things promises to dramatically improve the industrial sector. Both Germany and the United States have made accelerating this transformation a national priority and have developed strategies to capitalize on the manufacturing potential of the Internet of Things—Germany with its Industry 4.0project and the United States with its Strategy for American Innovation.

As Germany and the United States continue these efforts, smart public policies designed to spur the development and adoption of the Internet of Things will be critical to ensuring each country can successfully boost productivity, increase manufacturing efficiency, and enhance national competitiveness.