The move toward sustainable practices, products and materials is no longer on the horizon but ever-present.

Manufacturing's pioneers have shaped cutting-edge forms of product inspection technology that help processors make significant gains in food safety while enhancing efficiency. These recent strides also have manufacturers focusing on cost in alignment with capability—and niche automation markets, such as machine vision, are expected to grow even more.

As consumers demand more information about the origin and authenticity of the products they consume, farsighted brands seek to reach new levels of transparency.

The tremendous amount of resources that go into bringing a product to market can be eclipsed by the costs of an unforeseen recall.