In an era defined by environmental urgency, industrial design holds the profound responsibility and opportunity to champion eco-design, seamlessly integrating sustainability into the very DNA of products to mitigate environmental impact from conception to end-of-life.

The Industrial design event organised by CES solidified the urgency of the topic within global context of ESG and proved to be a gathering fueling innovation and collaboration. The resounding achievement was underscored by the influential presence of visionary creative directors from leading design studios and globally recognized brands, who shared groundbreaking insights on the future of form, function and eco-design. Crucially, this high-level discourse was matched by the active participation of executives from major manufacturing firms, facilitating essential conversations between MVPs, concepts, first production run and mass production. This unique convergence of top-tier design talent and manufacturing capability on the show floor fostered a dynamic environment for forging strategic partnerships, ensuring that the visionary ideas presented are not only inspiring but also poised for tangible, real-world realization.

Sustainable manufacturing is critically important not only for our planet's future but also as the essential bridge for economic partnerships, particularly for Vietnam, as it serves as a cost effective territory for Chinese manufacturing giants, and as it aligns robust production capabilities with the European Union's stringent environmental regulations and green ambitions.

In the historic charm of Hoi An provided a powerful backdrop for a forward-looking gathering: a pivotal conference on sustainable manufacturing, where industry leaders and innovators convened to transform ecological responsibility from a lofty ideal into a practical blueprint for the future of Vietnamese industry. Against a global imperative for greener practices, the event served as a crucial nexus, fostering dynamic dialogues on circular economies, decarbonization of supply chains, and the integration of innovative, low-impact materials. The discussions moved beyond theory, culminating in actionable strategies and collaborative partnerships that promise to propel the regional manufacturing sector towards a more resilient and environmentally conscious era.

Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing are the foundational pillars for achieving efficiency in sustainability, transforming industrial operations through data-driven efficiency, predictive intelligence, and closed-loop systems that drastically reduce waste and energy consumption.

This transformative potential was expertly unpacked by our distinguished panel of presenters.

Mark Richardson from Arup South China Architecture and Planning Leader demonstrated how “Rethinking the Manufacturing Campus for Industry 4.0 and beyond’’ matters in the quest for true sustainability and operational excellence, arguing that the physical environment itself must be intelligently designed to enable the seamless flow of data, materials, and energy. He illustrated that by integrating smart and modular infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and flexible, adaptive layouts from the ground up, a manufacturing campus transforms from a static facility into a responsive, efficient, and deeply sustainable ecosystem, ultimately becoming the foundational bedrock that allows advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and automation to reach their full potential.

Martin Kefer, an R&D Engineer from ABB, Shanghai spoke about how “Innovating robots to fit Industry 4.0’’ is fundamentally about elevating them from isolated automated machines into intelligent, connected data hubs. He detailed how next-generation robots are embedded with sensors and AI, enabling them to not only perform complex tasks with precision but also to generate valuable performance data, self-diagnose issues, and communicate seamlessly within a digital ecosystem to enable predictive maintenance and unprecedented production flexibility.

Ingo Neumann, A Consultant from Unity Business Consulting from Shanghai, spoke about “What Industry 4.0 means for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul'‘“ framing it not merely as a technological upgrade but as a fundamental strategic shift. He emphasized that the core of this transformation lies in leveraging data connectivity, IoT sensors, and AI-driven analytics to move from a reactive, schedule-based maintenance model to a truly predictive and prescriptive one. Neumann crucially addressed the critical human and process elements, outlining the necessary changes in organizational structure, workforce skills, and data management protocols required to fully harness Industry 4.0 for maximizing asset uptime, extending lifecycle value, and driving significant operational cost savings.