Collective Intelligence: shaping the future of manufacturing

Real progress doesn’t happen in silos. It happens when people come together, challenge ideas, and push boundaries. That’s why collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.

What is Collective Intelligence?

It’s more than teamwork. It’s a mindset.

By bringing together different perspectives, sharing knowledge, and leveraging the latest technology, we make better decisions - faster. Needless to say, AI plays an important role, but real intelligence happens when humans and technology work in sync. This approach allows for more productivity and creativity.

Many AI experts lack industry knowledge, people who understand AI don’t have subject-matter expertise in specific industries, vertical industry experts lack AI knowledge. The uncertainty in this transition creates opportunities for those who can bridge the gap between AI and industry. That is why we blend shop floor production experts, vertical industry experts with software engineers and more importantly play with our latest customer driven findings. We believe Collective Intelligence creates a competitive edge.

A recent study by McKinsey & Company highlights the gap between what employees and employers believe drives innovation. When comparing R&D professionals’ priorities to their companies’ focus, the study found that employees ranked these factors as the top three drivers of innovation:

1. Internal collaboration
2. A nonbureaucratic environment
3. Intellectual freedom

Yet, while companies recognized the importance of collaboration, the other two factors were much lower on how the employees perceive their priority list. This disconnect shows why a structured but open approach, one that cuts through bureaucracy and gives people the freedom to explore ideas, is crucial for real innovation.

That’s exactly what Collective Intelligence is about. By creating an environment where ideas can flow freely and expertise is shared, we’re not just adapting to change, we’re driving it.

The goal?

• Smarter problem-solving to solve complex problems, and mix industry experts with tech experts
• More efficient decision-making with continuous improvement mindsetFaster and customer driven innovation
• Faster and customer driven innovation

3 seasons, 12 episodes

We’re now in season three of our Collective Intelligence program, with episode 12 just wrapped up. This season, we’ve had three virtual events and one in-person gathering, a week-long session in Pune, India. Why India? Because it’s a vibrant, fast-growing market full of opportunities. Hosted by our Seco team, this event brought together 13 Sandvik brands to focus on: “Strategic Insights for a Sustainable Future with AI.”

The energy was incredible. Conversations sparked new ideas, and the week reinforced why working together makes us stronger.

Diversity drives innovation

Innovation thrives when different perspectives come together. That’s why diversity and inclusion are built into everything we do. Different backgrounds and experiences enrich the company’s knowledge.

In the Collective Intelligence Community, we create space for bold ideas and open conversations. We encourage different viewpoints because we know that’s where the best solutions come from. Psychologica

Our mission to simplify manufacturing

Our mission is clear: simplify manufacturing through technology. That means designing solutions that are easy to use, easy to buy, easy to deploy and easy to query. We want to build seamless integrations and reinvent customer engagement.

We focus on:

• Strategic partnerships that strengthen our ecosystem
• Comprehensive solutions that support the entire manufacturing process
• Open innovation to drive industry-wide progress

With our deep knowledge of machining and manufacturing, we’re helping customers:

• Optimize production
• Reduce waste
• Increase automation

We’re also harnessing structured product and process data to power digital twins, digitalized machining knowledge, online service offerings, and sustainability-driven solutions.

Sustainability + AI = A smarter future

For us at Sandvik, sustainability isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a must. We’re committed to net-zero emissions and are using AI to help us get there.

At the conference, we explored how digital solutions can drive more circular, efficient manufacturing. Some highlights:

• CAD feature automation for better design efficiency
• Predictive tool wear inspection to cut downtime and material waste
• Our new Manufacturing Copilot, an AI-driven assistant embedded in several of our software

We also tackled the growing need for digital compliance, covering AI regulations, data security, and cybersecurity challenges.

Looking ahead

For us, Collective Intelligence isn’t a project, it’s a movement. It’s how we stay competitive, create value, and push the industry forward. It is a continuous journey of learning and innovation. By creating a culture of collaboration and leveraging the power of collective knowledge, we are preparing for the future of manufacturing.

The Collective Intelligence conference 2025 reaffirmed our focus on AI, sustainability, and the human element. Because in the end, technology is just a tool, it’s people who make the difference.

Let’s build the future, together.