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James

James Prestwood

Industry Analyst

Research Focus

As part of the Industrial & Manufacturing team, James Prestwood leads research on high-impact digital technologies in manufacturing production, operations, and service. His research focuses on the most transformative innovations within and across these core domains, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), industrial automation (hardware and software), and quality.

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Topics Covered

Industrial & Manufacturing Markets

Insights

Tulip Designates Qatar Development Bank’s Factory One as Its Middle Eastern Experience Center, Bringing SME Manufacturers into the MES Fold

Tulip Designates Qatar Development Bank’s Factory One as Its Middle Eastern Experience Center, Bringing SME Manufacturers into the MES Fold

Insight | 1Q 2025 | IN-7723

Software-Defined Automation: Industrial Automation Security and Code Management Capabilities Will Matter Most to Manufacturers in the Short Run

Software-Defined Automation: Industrial Automation Security and Code Management Capabilities Will Matter Most to Manufacturers in the Short Run

Insight | 1Q 2025 | IN-7725

Questions About Europe’s Industrial Future Were Raised at Davos 2025; Hannover Messe 2025 Should Look to Answer Those Involving Manufacturing

Questions About Europe’s Industrial Future Were Raised at Davos 2025; Hannover Messe 2025 Should Look to Answer Those Involving Manufacturing

Insight | 1Q 2025 | IN-7710

The 1Q 2025 Results from Rockwell Automation Show Notable Success in Latin America, and Other Technology Vendors Should Make Sure to Take Note

The 1Q 2025 Results from Rockwell Automation Show Notable Success in Latin America, and Other Technology Vendors Should Make Sure to Take Note

Insight | 1Q 2025 | IN-7722

Honeywell to Split into Three Entities to Drive Increased Performance of Its Aerospace, Automation, and Advanced Materials Business Units

Honeywell to Split into Three Entities to Drive Increased Performance of Its Aerospace, Automation, and Advanced Materials Business Units

Insight | 1Q 2025 | IN-7719

Emerson to Buy Remaining Shares of AspenTech for US$7.2 Billion, Allowing Emerson to More Effectively Compete in the Manufacturing Digital Transformation Space

Emerson to Buy Remaining Shares of AspenTech for US$7.2 Billion, Allowing Emerson to More Effectively Compete in the Manufacturing Digital Transformation Space

Insight | 1Q 2025 | IN-7711

European Manufacturing Challenges: Northvolt Files for Bankruptcy

European Manufacturing Challenges: Northvolt Files for Bankruptcy

Insight | 4Q 2024 | IN-7618

Everyone Wants AI/Gen AI in Their Factories, but Manufacturers Need to Be Aware of the Hidden Costs Associated with AI/Gen AI

Everyone Wants AI/Gen AI in Their Factories, but Manufacturers Need to Be Aware of the Hidden Costs Associated with AI/Gen AI

Insight | 4Q 2024 | IN-7647

A Space Inflection Point: Is Commercial In-Space Manufacturing Really Still a Science Fiction Story?

A Space Inflection Point: Is Commercial In-Space Manufacturing Really Still a Science Fiction Story?

Insight | 4Q 2024 | IN-7616

Copia Automation Announces the Launch of Its AI-Powered Copilot, Supporting the Transformation of How Automation Engineers Engage with Their Coding Workflows

Copia Automation Announces the Launch of Its AI-Powered Copilot, Supporting the Transformation of How Automation Engineers Engage with Their Coding Workflows

Insight | 4Q 2024 | IN-7619

MTEK and ETQ’s Recent Partnerships with Microsoft and Acerta Analytics Highlight the Value of Collaboration in the MES and QMS Markets

MTEK and ETQ’s Recent Partnerships with Microsoft and Acerta Analytics Highlight the Value of Collaboration in the MES and QMS Markets

Insight | 4Q 2024 | IN-7597

ADNOC Is Closing in on Its Acquisition of Covestro, Begging the Question, Can European Manufacturing Thrive without Outside Investment to Fund Digital Transformation?

ADNOC Is Closing in on Its Acquisition of Covestro, Begging the Question, Can European Manufacturing Thrive without Outside Investment to Fund Digital Transformation?

Insight | 3Q 2024 | IN-7525

A Guiding Hand: How Industrial DevOps Supports the Software-Defined Automation Transition

A Guiding Hand: How Industrial DevOps Supports the Software-Defined Automation Transition

Insight | 3Q 2024 | IN-7499

Despite the China Plus One Strategy, Chinese Manufacturers Will Strengthen the Country’s Manufacturing Markets with Increased Adoption of New Technologies

Despite the China Plus One Strategy, Chinese Manufacturers Will Strengthen the Country’s Manufacturing Markets with Increased Adoption of New Technologies

Insight | 3Q 2024 | IN-7426

Siemens Realize LIVE 2024: AI, Partnerships, and Industrial Metaverse

Siemens Realize LIVE 2024: AI, Partnerships, and Industrial Metaverse

Insight | 2Q 2024 | IN-7349

Generative AI’s Hype Is in Full Swing and Strong Use Cases for Biopharma Manufacturers Have Emerged

Generative AI’s Hype Is in Full Swing and Strong Use Cases for Biopharma Manufacturers Have Emerged

Insight | 2Q 2024 | IN-7293

Global Manufacturing Data: Who Are the Asia-Pacific Star Nations and How Can Technology Vendors Capitalize?

Global Manufacturing Data: Who Are the Asia-Pacific Star Nations and How Can Technology Vendors Capitalize?

Insight | 1Q 2024 | IN-7097

Space Manufacturing Market Expansion: China’s Significant Investment in Growing Domestic Capabilities

Space Manufacturing Market Expansion: China’s Significant Investment in Growing Domestic Capabilities

Insight | 1Q 2024 | IN-7215

Rockwell Automation’s 2023 Automation Fair: Acquisitions, AI, and Modular Architecture

Rockwell Automation’s 2023 Automation Fair: Acquisitions, AI, and Modular Architecture

Insight | 4Q 2023 | IN-7145

The DMG MORI Digital Twin Machine Model: How Siemens and DMG MORI’s Partnership Is Leading the Market in Creating Digital Machine Tool Ecosystems

The DMG MORI Digital Twin Machine Model: How Siemens and DMG MORI’s Partnership Is Leading the Market in Creating Digital Machine Tool Ecosystems

Insight | 4Q 2023 | IN-7111

Clean Energy Manufacturing: Which Vendors Are Best Provisioned to Provide End-to-End Automation Coverage?

Clean Energy Manufacturing: Which Vendors Are Best Provisioned to Provide End-to-End Automation Coverage?

Insight | 3Q 2023 | IN-7084

Siemens’ New Semiconductor Lifecycle Management PLM Product Is Ideally Suited for the Developing ASEAN Market

Siemens’ New Semiconductor Lifecycle Management PLM Product Is Ideally Suited for the Developing ASEAN Market

Insight | 3Q 2023 | IN-7063

CMMS Software: The Growing Need for Software Partnerships for Machine Tool Builders and What MaintainX Is Doing Right

CMMS Software: The Growing Need for Software Partnerships for Machine Tool Builders and What MaintainX Is Doing Right

Insight | 3Q 2023 | IN-7050

Toyota’s US$350 Million Production Halt: Focus on OT/IT Transparency, Hiring Processes, and Evaluation of Cyber Threats Needed to Avoid the Risks of the Increasing Use of Software and Automation

Toyota’s US$350 Million Production Halt: Focus on OT/IT Transparency, Hiring Processes, and Evaluation of Cyber Threats Needed to Avoid the Risks of the Increasing Use of Software and Automation

Insight | 3Q 2023 | IN-7059

PLC Solutions: Siemens’ SIMATIC S7-1500 Controller and TIA Portal Lead the Pack

PLC Solutions: Siemens’ SIMATIC S7-1500 Controller and TIA Portal Lead the Pack

Insight | 3Q 2023 | IN-7049

With the Introduction of Siemens’ Virtual PLC, Manufacturers Must Revise Their Automation Architectures

With the Introduction of Siemens’ Virtual PLC, Manufacturers Must Revise Their Automation Architectures

Insight | 3Q 2023 | IN-6997

Actions Industrial Automation Vendors Should Take to Capitalize on Hannover Messe’s Key Trends: Identify Market Needs, Drive Innovation, and Correct Market Messaging

Actions Industrial Automation Vendors Should Take to Capitalize on Hannover Messe’s Key Trends: Identify Market Needs, Drive Innovation, and Correct Market Messaging

Insight | 2Q 2023 | IN-6934

Over a Year After Rockwell Automation’s Acquisition of Plex Systems: How are Things Looking?

Over a Year After Rockwell Automation’s Acquisition of Plex Systems: How are Things Looking?

Insight | 2Q 2023 | IN-6893

MTEK’s Cloud-Based MBrain MES Carves Out Niche in Low-Cost Segment to Target SMEs

MTEK’s Cloud-Based MBrain MES Carves Out Niche in Low-Cost Segment to Target SMEs

Insight | 1Q 2023 | IN-6897

The SCADA/HMI Software Market Is Moving towards Holistic, Yet Modular, End-to-End Portfolio Solutions: SaaS, Easy Integration, and Identifiable Product Differentiation Help Vendors Stand Out.

The SCADA/HMI Software Market Is Moving towards Holistic, Yet Modular, End-to-End Portfolio Solutions: SaaS, Easy Integration, and Identifiable Product Differentiation Help Vendors Stand Out.

Insight | 1Q 2023 | IN-6862

Manufacturing Faces Massive Labor Shortages; Industrial Automation Technologies and Sustainability Are Key to Overcoming Them

Manufacturing Faces Massive Labor Shortages; Industrial Automation Technologies and Sustainability Are Key to Overcoming Them

Insight | 1Q 2023 | IN-6843

Panasonic, CATL, and GM/LG Energy Invest US$13 Billion in New Battery Factories and Machine Tool Builders like TRUMPF Will Help Fill Them

Panasonic, CATL, and GM/LG Energy Invest US$13 Billion in New Battery Factories and Machine Tool Builders like TRUMPF Will Help Fill Them

Insight | 1Q 2023 | IN-6807

Changes in Technology Spending and Production Efficiency in the “Big 4” Manufacturing Economies

Changes in Technology Spending and Production Efficiency in the “Big 4” Manufacturing Economies

Insight | 4Q 2022 | IN-6783

Digital Manufacturing Summit 2022: People at the Center of Digital Transformation

Digital Manufacturing Summit 2022: People at the Center of Digital Transformation

Insight | 4Q 2022 | IN-6719

Blaize and Accton’s New Partnership and Offering Sends Them into an Already Competitive Manufacturing Software Market

Blaize and Accton’s New Partnership and Offering Sends Them into an Already Competitive Manufacturing Software Market

Insight | 4Q 2022 | IN-6705

Helping Manufacturers Combat Inflationary Pressures and Rising Interest Rates Presents Opportunities for AI Solution Providers

Helping Manufacturers Combat Inflationary Pressures and Rising Interest Rates Presents Opportunities for AI Solution Providers

Insight | 3Q 2022 | IN-6686

Rockwell Automation and Emerson Spend US$8 Billion on a Pair of Acquisitions to Improve Industry 4.0 Software Posture

Rockwell Automation and Emerson Spend US$8 Billion on a Pair of Acquisitions to Improve Industry 4.0 Software Posture

Insight | 3Q 2022 | IN-6641

Defense Spending Is on the Rise, and Aerospace and Defense Companies Should Take This Opportunity to Invest in Digital Transformation

Defense Spending Is on the Rise, and Aerospace and Defense Companies Should Take This Opportunity to Invest in Digital Transformation

Insight | 3Q 2022 | IN-6644

Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Its Drive of Higher Oil and Gas Prices Should Encourage Chemical Manufacturers to Further Engage with Digital Transformation

Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Its Drive of Higher Oil and Gas Prices Should Encourage Chemical Manufacturers to Further Engage with Digital Transformation

Insight | 3Q 2022 | IN-6607

Cloud and SMEs Represent Significant Opportunities for MES Vendors

Cloud and SMEs Represent Significant Opportunities for MES Vendors

Insight | 2Q 2022 | IN-6560

Effective IT/OT Convergence Needs Strong Supporting Software and a Change in Executive Management Structure

Effective IT/OT Convergence Needs Strong Supporting Software and a Change in Executive Management Structure

Insight | 2Q 2022 | IN-6520

Siemens Xcelerator Portfolio Graduates to Software-as-a-Service

Siemens Xcelerator Portfolio Graduates to Software-as-a-Service

Insight | 1Q 2022 | IN-6480

Research

Manufacturing Market Data: Americas Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025
Manufacturing Market Data: Americas Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025

Presentation | 1Q 2025 | PT-3464

Manufacturing Market Data: Asia-Pacific
Manufacturing Market Data: Asia-Pacific

Market Data | 1Q 2025 | MD-MMDAPAC-101

Manufacturing Market Data: Asia-Pacific Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025
Manufacturing Market Data: Asia-Pacific Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025

Presentation | 1Q 2025 | PT-3466

Manufacturing Market Data: Americas
Manufacturing Market Data: Americas

Market Data | 1Q 2025 | MD-MMDA-101

Manufacturing Market Data: Europe
Manufacturing Market Data: Europe

Market Data | 1Q 2025 | MD-MMDE-101

Manufacturing Market Data: Europe Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025
Manufacturing Market Data: Europe Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025

Presentation | 1Q 2025 | PT-3465

Manufacturing Market Data: Global Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025
Manufacturing Market Data: Global Market Data Overview: 1Q 2025

Presentation | 1Q 2025 | PT-3467

Hot Tech Innovators: Oil & Gas Solutions
Hot Tech Innovators: Oil & Gas Solutions

Presentation | 1Q 2025 | PT-3304

Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in Oil & Gas; Operational & Maintenance Case Studies
Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in Oil & Gas; Operational & Maintenance Case Studies

Presentation | 4Q 2024 | PT-3370

Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in O&G: IT Solutions Case Studies
Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in O&G: IT Solutions Case Studies

Presentation | 4Q 2024 | PT-3369

Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in Oil & Gas; AI & Data Analytics Case Studies
Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in Oil & Gas; AI & Data Analytics Case Studies

Presentation | 4Q 2024 | PT-3303

Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in Oil & Gas
Best Practices: Managing and Scaling Innovation in Oil & Gas

Presentation | 4Q 2024 | PT-3301

Software-Defined Automation: Market Trends
Software-Defined Automation: Market Trends

Report | 3Q 2024 | AN-6230

MES Software: Discrete Manufacturing
MES Software: Discrete Manufacturing

Competitive Ranking | 2Q 2024 | CA-1392

Quality Management System (QMS) Software
Quality Management System (QMS) Software

Competitive Ranking | 2Q 2024 | CA-1390

Quality Management System (QMS) Software
Quality Management System (QMS) Software

Market Data | 2Q 2024 | MD-QMS-101

Quality Management System (QMS) Software Market Data Overview: 2Q 2024
Quality Management System (QMS) Software Market Data Overview: 2Q 2024

Presentation | 2Q 2024 | PT-2818

MES Software: Pharmaceutical, Biotech, and Cell & Gene Therapy Manufacturing
MES Software: Pharmaceutical, Biotech, and Cell & Gene Therapy Manufacturing

Competitive Ranking | 1Q 2024 | CA-1477

QMS Software: AI Trends and Market Impact
QMS Software: AI Trends and Market Impact

Report | 1Q 2024 | AN-6081

Industrial Machine Vision Systems: Innovations, Key Players, and Differentiators Driving Quality Management Excellence
Industrial Machine Vision Systems: Innovations, Key Players, and Differentiators Driving Quality Management Excellence

Presentation | 4Q 2023 | PT-2816

Manufacturing Market Data
Manufacturing Market Data

Market Data | 3Q 2023 | MD-MMD-103

Industrial Automation: PLC Hardware and Software
Industrial Automation: PLC Hardware and Software

Competitive Ranking | 3Q 2023 | CA-1402

Industrial Automation Hardware: HMIs, IPCs, PLCs
Industrial Automation Hardware: HMIs, IPCs, PLCs

Market Data | 3Q 2023 | MD-IAH-23

Industrial Automation Hardware Innovation: PLCs, IPCs, and HMIs
Industrial Automation Hardware Innovation: PLCs, IPCs, and HMIs

Report | 2Q 2023 | AN-5793

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Software Suppliers
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Software Suppliers

Competitive Ranking | 2Q 2023 | CA-1368

Industrial Automation Software
Industrial Automation Software

Market Data | 1Q 2023 | MD-IAT-22

Industrial Automation: SCADA/HMI Software
Industrial Automation: SCADA/HMI Software

Report | 1Q 2023 | AN-5624

Digital Transformation in the Metalworking and Machine Tool Industry
Digital Transformation in the Metalworking and Machine Tool Industry

Report | 1Q 2023 | AN-5623

Manufacturing Market Data
Manufacturing Market Data

Market Data | 4Q 2022 | MD-MMD-102

Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Software Suppliers
Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Software Suppliers

Competitive Ranking | 4Q 2022 | CA-1367

Manufacturing Execution Systems
Manufacturing Execution Systems

Market Data | 3Q 2022 | MD-MES-22

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES): Their Future and Place In the Modern Factory
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES): Their Future and Place In the Modern Factory

Report | 3Q 2022 | AN-5622

Digital Transformation in the Chemical Industry
Digital Transformation in the Chemical Industry

Report | 2Q 2022 | AN-5621

James Prestwood In The News

Outlook 2025: The rise of AI-enabled machine vision Logo
Outlook 2025: The rise of AI-enabled machine vision
Electronics 360 (2025-01-2)
Another significant use case for AI-enabled machine vision is in quality control where manufacturers use the technology to help with increased regulatory requirements, new manufacturing techniques and labor shortages, according to market research firm ABI Research.“AI is accelerating and improving...
Citation
Analysis: What is driving Industry 4.0 momentum in APAC? Logo
Analysis: What is driving Industry 4.0 momentum in APAC?
Mobile World Live (2024-01-29)
James Prestwood, industry analyst at ABI research, told Mobile World Live (MWL) developing markets in APAC are likely to see the strongest growth in private 5G network revenue from manufacturing between 2022 to 2030, with a CAGR of more than 45 per cent exceeding North America and Europe.
Citation
AI answers the need for explainability on the factory floor Logo
AI answers the need for explainability on the factory floor
Future IoT (2024-01-19)
“AI is accelerating and improving the efficiency of the MV market. It increases inspection speeds and enables the movement of quality upstream, and AI systems are more adaptable than traditional software,” explains James Prestwood, industrial and manufacturing industry analyst at ABI Research.
Citation
Artificial intelligence drives advances in quality control solutions Logo
Artificial intelligence drives advances in quality control solutions
Control Engineering (2024-01-9)
“AI is accelerating and improving the efficiency of the machine vision (MV) market. It increases inspection speeds and enables the movement of quality upstream, and AI systems are more adaptable than traditional software. However, although many AI solutions can easily integrate with existing MV...
Citation
Quality control machine vision market to hit US$7.2B by 2028, ABI report Logo
Quality control machine vision market to hit US$7.2B by 2028, ABI report
Design Engineering (2024-01-3)
“AI is accelerating and improving the efficiency of the MV market,” James Prestwood, Industrial and Manufacturing Industry Analyst at ABI Research. “It increases inspection speeds and enables the movement of quality upstream, and AI systems are more adaptable than traditional software.”
Citation
Machine vision: growth expected to triple by 2028 Logo
Machine vision: growth expected to triple by 2028
Factory (2024-01-3)
The machine vision quality control market is expected to grow from $2.3 billion in 2023 to a significant $7.2 billion in 2028, according to a recent report from technology market research firm ABI Research . The increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) as an enabling technology could have...
Citation
Industrial and Manufacturing Contributed $16.3T Worth of Value to Global Economy in 2022 Logo
Industrial and Manufacturing Contributed $16.3T Worth of Value to Global Economy in 2022
EE Times Asia (2023-11-9)
“The primary change to the largest manufacturing companies globally is the absence of electronic companies in the top 10. Petroleum refining, mining, and automotive manufacturers continue to dominate the top 10 spots. While automotive manufacturing still boasts the largest factories by size, its...
Citation
ABI Research reveals changing manufacturing landscape Logo
ABI Research reveals changing manufacturing landscape
Future IoT (2023-11-8)
“The primary change to the largest manufacturing companies globally is the absence of electronic companies in the top 10,” says James Prestwood, industrial and manufacturing markets industry analyst at ABI Research. He listed petroleum refining, mining, and automotive manufacturers as continuing to...
Citation
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to $64B Logo
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to $64B
Industrial Equipment News (2023-08-22)
“PLC market growth is driven by new manufacturing requirements, such as for smart connected products, EVs and battery manufacturing," James Prestwood, Industrial and Manufacturing Industry Analyst at ABI Research, said. "New production techniques and a 'digital-first' mindset are also encouraging...
Citation
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to $64B Logo
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to $64B
Manufacturing.Net (2023-08-22)
“PLC market growth is driven by new manufacturing requirements, such as for smart connected products, EVs and battery manufacturing," James Prestwood, Industrial and Manufacturing Industry Analyst at ABI Research, said. "New production techniques and a 'digital-first' mindset are also encouraging...
Citation
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to $64B Logo
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to $64B
Manufacturing Business Technology (2023-08-22)
“PLC market growth is driven by new manufacturing requirements, such as for smart connected products, EVs and battery manufacturing," James Prestwood, Industrial and Manufacturing Industry Analyst at ABI Research, said. "New production techniques and a 'digital-first' mindset are also encouraging...
Citation
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to US$64 Billion As Manufacturers Adopt Automation Solutions with Complex Architectures Logo
Industrial Automation Hardware Market to Grow to US$64 Billion As Manufacturers Adopt Automation Solutions with Complex Architectures
Technology For You (2023-08-22)
The PLC market is the largest industrial automation hardware segment with sales projected to reach US$30 billion by 2033. “PLC market growth is driven by new manufacturing requirements, such as for smart connected products, EVs, and battery manufacturing. New production techniques and a...
Citation
Report: Machine-tool market to reach $245 billion in 2032 Logo
Report: Machine-tool market to reach $245 billion in 2032
Smart Industry (2023-03-16)
According to ABI Research, the machine-tool market will grow by a compound annual-growth rate of 4.3% from 2022 to 2032 and reach US $245.2 billion in manufacturing value-added. “This is driven by new product design facilitating the need for new machine tools, old equipment reaching the end of its...
Citation
Cloud-based MES market set to grow Logo
Cloud-based MES market set to grow
Control Engineering Europe (2022-09-27)
“While some manufacturers remain hesitant to move to cloud-based MES software due to security concerns, the ease of deployment and maintenance, alongside cheaper and transparent costing, will continue to encourage manufacturers to adopt this new structure and usage,” said James Prestwood, industrial...
Citation