Critical Manufacturing opens registration for MESI 4.0 Summit 2027 in Porto

Critical Manufacturing has opened registration for the third MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit, set for May 20-21, 2027, in Porto, Portugal. The event will focus on AI, digital transformation and MES adoption, with early-bird registration offering a 50% discount for a limited time.

Why it matters: - Manufacturers are under pressure to turn digitalization and AI investments into measurable gains on the factory floor. - The summit is designed to connect operations leaders, technology experts and practitioners around practical ways to scale Industry 4.0. - Limited capacity and a first-come, first-served registration process make early sign-up important for attendees who want access.

What happened: - Critical Manufacturing opened registration for the third MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit. - The event will take place May 20-21, 2027, at the Alfândega do Porto in Porto, Portugal. - The summit uses the theme “The Leadership Agenda for the Thinking Factory.” - Early-bird registration is open now and includes a 50% discount for a limited time. - The company says places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. - More information and registration are available at the event website.

The details: - The two-day summit will bring together manufacturing leaders, technology experts and practitioners to discuss emerging technologies and digital transformation. - Previous editions drew more than 500 attendees. - Eighty-five percent of past attendees held operational or decision-making roles. - Past speakers and participants came from Infineon, Medtronic, Jabil, Alfa Laval, TDK Electronics, Micron Technology and Danfoss. - The 2027 agenda will focus on Industry 4.0 adoption, scaling digital transformation across multiple sites, trusted AI and best practices for MES implementations. - Critical Manufacturing says the event will keep a strong emphasis on real-world experience from technology projects and digital transformation programs. - Jeff Winter will return as chair of the summit. - The program is expected to include main-stage presentations, technology-focused sessions, roundtable discussions, interactive workshops, an MES Expert Lab and an Expo Pavilion. - The summit will also feature an Innovation Hub for start-ups and emerging manufacturing technology companies. - The 2027 edition is expected to expand the learning, discussion and collaboration format across both days. - Previous editions were supported by sponsors and exhibitors including Infosys, Cognizant, HCLTech, Red Hat and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

Between the lines: - The event is positioning itself as a practical forum, not just a conference, by centering peer learning and implementation lessons. - That focus reflects a broader industry shift: manufacturers want fewer abstract AI discussions and more guidance on what works on real production lines. - The repeat attendance from major industrial and technology companies suggests the summit has become a relevant networking and vendor-engagement venue. - Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO of Critical Manufacturing, says manufacturers have already invested in connecting and digitalizing operations, and the next challenge is scaling AI and related technologies with confidence. - Dr. Werner Lohwasser, CEO & COO of TDK Electronics, said the value of the summit comes from sharing real-life project experience rather than textbook knowledge.

What's next: - Critical Manufacturing will announce additional speakers, conference sessions and the full 2027 program in the coming months. - Early registrants can secure discounted admission while capacity remains available. - The company is expected to continue using the summit to highlight its MES, connectivity, automation, analytics and trusted AI platform.

The bottom line: - MESI 4.0 Summit 2027 is being framed as a hands-on meeting point for manufacturers trying to convert digital and AI strategy into operational results.