The smart factory and the automated factory are two entirely different concepts. An automated factory, also known as an unmanned factory, refers to a facility where all production activities are controlled by electronic computers, and the production lines are equipped with robots, eliminating the need for human workers. From the first process to the final step, all operations are managed by robots, reducing labor costs. From the perspective of a smart factory, automation is only a small part of it. The smart factory emphasizes not just the unmanned operation of the production process but also the efficient and orderly matching and integration of information flow, material flow, and human flow. This enables end-to-end collaborative operations from material suppliers to manufacturing and then to customers. Therefore, beyond simple unmanned production lines and intelligent robotic production, the overall framework of smart factory technology can only be constructed by integrating various levels of technologies, such as lean production technology, advanced manufacturing technology, and digital platform technology.

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