In the choices we make across our supply chains, we rely on reliable agreements and proven quality. After all, we know what we can expect from each other. But what does that actually mean? What we expect from one another has changed in recent years. Information about new products — or, in other words, successors and predecessors — is becoming increasingly important. And because global supply chains are often, or rather irregularly, disrupted, delivery times are shifting from transactional information to strategic information. No wonder that, in times like these, we are beginning to question the principle of just in time and are more inclined towards just in case. Because there are quite a few cases.

In the energy transition, we all play our part in building an energy system that supports a sustainable future. Kornelis Blok, Professor of Energy Systems Analysis in Delft, sees energy savings, improved efficiency, electrification using sustainably generated energy, and the lack of grid connections as the greatest challenges. International and national governments, large companies and representative bodies have ambitious goals and should be leading the way. But are they? And more importantly: should we pin our hopes on them and wait for that to produce results?

Whereas the concept of Safety in industrial applications was for many years synonymous with personal safety, Security referred to a not-always-clear notion of things you shouldn’t forget but that probably wouldn’t happen anyway; today, we see that very differently. The benefits enabled by smart, connected solutions—combined with the poor security of many components—create situations of high vulnerability and potentially significant consequences. This is not a problem as long as there are no malicious threats, but the new geopolitical reality marks a clear break from the past, making it both logical and necessary to have our defenses properly in order.

This Signaal has a first, as we offer not one, but no less than two lead articles. And both articles revolve around perhaps the hottest topic in the manufacturing industry right now: artificial intelligence. Everyone is talking about that, but the question is how do we develop AI business-wise from an interesting novelty with patchy use to a decisive link for integrated applications.