The next decade in manufacturing will not be defined by technology adoption alone — but by strategic digital leadership.
Introduction
As Chief Sales Officer, I spend every week in dialogue with leaders across electronics, medtech, aerospace, and semiconductor manufacturing. While technologies evolve rapidly, one insight remains constant: Digitalization is not a project. It’s an ongoing leadership responsibility.
Looking ahead, the question for MOM (Manufacturing Operations Management) isn’t “what tool to choose” — it’s “What capabilities should we prioritize to remain resilient, efficient, and competitive in the next decade?”
In this article, I’ll outline five priorities that I believe will shape the MOM strategies of the 2025–2030 industrial landscape, supported by current data and thought leadership from leading global institutions.
1. Modularity Over Monoliths
Rigid, monolithic MES solutions are increasingly being replaced by modular MOM architectures that allow stepwise adoption and targeted transformation.
“Future-ready architectures in manufacturing must enable composable capabilities, modular workflows, and decoupled services — not vendor lock-in.” 1
Leadership impact:
Modular systems reduce upfront investment risk, shorten implementation cycles, and allow business units to scale transformation at their own pace — a key concern in multi-site global operations.
2. Real-Time Over Retrospective
According to Capgemini, 76% of manufacturers report delayed decision-making due to lack of real-time data integration across their systems. 2
In high-complexity environments, real-time responsiveness is no longer a “nice-to-have”; it’s core to safety, compliance, and performance.
Leadership impact:
Manufacturing leaders must shift their digital KPIs from “visibility” to “velocity.” MOM systems must empower users to act — not just analyze.
3. Process-Centric Thinking
Digital success hinges on aligning software to real-world processes — not vice versa.
“Digital maturity is not determined by technology spend, but by cross-functional process alignment and orchestration.” 3
Leadership impact:
Digital strategies must be cross-functional by design. Sales, planning, quality, operations, and compliance must share common process logic and data models. MOM is the critical layer to make this happen.
4. Governance, Security & Resilience
Cybersecurity incidents in manufacturing have increased by 107% since 2020 (IBM Security X-Force 2023 Report 4). In parallel, regulatory pressures (e.g. EU MDR, ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR Part 11) are intensifying across sectors.
Leadership impact:
Digital governance — including change management, auditability, and controlled updates — is now a board-level topic.
Cloud or on-prem is no longer the strategic question. The real discussion is:
➡️ How can we ensure operational resilience and compliance — with agility?
5. Leadership Communication
Trust in digital transformation is shaped less by the software stack, and more by how the transformation is explained, structured, and experienced.
“Digital initiatives succeed when leaders clarify outcomes, manage expectations, and communicate progress continuously.” 5
Leadership impact:
As CSO, I’ve seen first-hand how a clear, credible roadmap unlocks internal alignment — across both commercial and technical stakeholders.
Conclusion
The next decade in manufacturing will not be defined by technology adoption alone — but by strategic digital leadership.
What we prioritize now — modularity, transparency, resilience, cross-functional orchestration — will determine how prepared we are to respond to both disruption and opportunity.
- Modern MOM strategies must reflect this new maturity level:
Systems that support both speed and control - Platforms that foster trust, not friction
- Architectures that evolve with your organization — not ahead or behind it
Want to align your MOM strategy with tomorrow’s leadership expectations? Let’s explore what a modular, resilient and trusted approach could look like for your business.
Further Reading & Sources
1 Gartner, Composable Manufacturing Architectures – 2023 Outlook
2 Capgemini Research Institute, Smart & Sustainable Manufacturing Report 2024
3 World Economic Forum, Global Lighthouse Network – Fourth Industrial Revolution Insights
4 IBM Security X-Force, Threat Intelligence Index 2023
5 MIT Sloan Management Review, Leading Digital Transformation – Research Highlights 2022
Authorʼs Note:
This article is intended as a thought leadership piece. All data is sourced from reputable industry studies and reports as referenced above. For organizations seeking to move beyond isolated systems, the path to digital maturity is clear: invest in integration, foster a culture of innovation, and measure progress not just by technology, but by business outcomes.
About Jochen Stephan | Chief Sales Officer, znt-Richter Group:
Dynamic sales leader with over 25 years of B2B and B2P expertise in Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), Corporate Performance Management and Financial Planning. Proven track record in driving revenue growth, building high-performing teams and fostering strategic partnerships. Seasoned lecturer at the Hochschule der Wirtschaft für Management (HDWM), delivering complex financial and performance-management topics to future business leaders.