The Integration of Two Smarts in the Era of Industry 4.0: Smart Factory and Smart City

As Industry 4.0 continues to revolutionise manufacturing and urban development, the integration of two critical paradigms, the smart factory and the smart city, emerges as a cornerstone of innovation. This paper explores the synergies between these two concepts, examining how advances in digitalisation, automation, and connectivity are reshaping both manufacturing processes and urban environments. By integrating smart factory principles into smart city initiatives and vice versa, organisations can unlock new opportunities for efficiency, sustainability, and economic growth. This article clarifies the possible advantages linked to combining smart factory and smart city concepts, which could lead to a more interconnected and intelligent future. Furthermore, the paper discusses a case study that centers on deploying a smart plastic IMM in the context of smart factory and smart city frameworks. This case study illustrates how incorporating IoT sensors, real-time monitoring, and data analytics leads to increased operational efficiency, minimized downtime, and better utilization of resources, promoting sustainability.