In 2026, the global manufacturing sector has reached a defining  literal pivot point. We have moved past the period of the" Smart Factory" being a bare buzzword for data collection. moment, the assiduity is witnessing a abecedarian shift toward Agentic AI — a sophisticated  elaboration where artificial intelligence does n't just  dissect data but acts as an independent agent to  break real- world  product challenges.    Throughout my times consulting on digital  transformation( DX) across  various artificial sectors, I've observed a recreating theme technology is noway the final thing; it's the vehicle. The real winners in 2026 are n't those with the most precious software, but those who successfully bridge the gap between silicon-  predicated sense and the fiber of the factory bottom.  Table of Contents 1. The 2026 Reality: Why "Automation" is No Longer Enough 2. Defining Agentic AI: The Evolution from Analytics to Autonomy 3. 5 St...