2025 Trends to Watch: Manufacturing Technology

Anna Ahrens

Principal Analyst

As a member of the Industrial IoT, software & communications team, Anna focuses on Industrial IoT. She examines the state of IIoT maturity and trends and transformations in automation approaches, edge and cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, and predictive maintenance.

Anna joined Omdia in January 2019 and has more than 10 years of experience in the electronic components industry. Her background includes roles in forecasting, market intelligence, business development, and product management for display devices. Anna is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Rachel See

Research Analyst, Electric Motor Systems

Rachel conducts research and analysis on low-voltage drives. She conducts primary research with manufacturers and secondary research on topics related to low-voltage drives in discrete and process industries. She is an analyst for Omdia’s Low Voltage Drives Intelligence Service.

Rachel joined Omdia in 2022. Previously, Rachel was based in a manufacturing company for over four years where she gained plenty of hands-on experience. There, she worked as a project engineer, handling improvement, cost saving, and expansion projects. Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany.

Alex West

Senior Principal Analyst, Industrial IoT

Alex West, senior principal analyst for the manufacturing technology group, leads its coverage of industrial sustainability, including readiness benchmarking, analysis of company sustainability performance, technology impact, and tracking legislation and sustainability start-ups. Alex also examines technology’s impact on the future of work and regularly contributes to Omdia’s Industrial Sustainability Today newsletter.

Over his 20 years as an analyst, covering discrete and process automation and machinery markets, he has helped customers understand the potential of the technology markets and perform voice-of-the-customer analyses. Alex has analyzed competitive environments, business models, technology trends, and end user requirements. He has consulted on the best practices for implementing IIoT, supported go-to-market strategies, and created market positioning content. He is a regular keynote speaker at industry events, tradeshows, and conferences worldwide. Alex holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in physics from the University of Bath, England, and is based in Northampton, UK.

Nattalyn Teng

Research Analyst, Electric Motor Systems

Nattalyn focuses on the research and analysis of low-voltage drives in the Government & Manufacturing team. She conducts primary and secondary research to understand customer needs and to reinforce Omdia’s competitive edge in the discrete and process industries. She provides key market insights by building rapport with industry experts.

Before joining Omdia, Nattalyn was a strategy consultant based in London, where she created bespoke solutions for pharmaceutical leaders and contributed to the life sciences industry. For her projects, Nattalyn crafted tailored value propositions and led high-level discussions with potential partners, resulting in successful deal negotiations.

Nattalyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Imperial College London. She is also equipped with experience in the research laboratory optimizing a copper-based catalyst widely used in the petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and energy production industries.

Mark Watson

Senior Director, Manufacturing Technology & Smart Infrastructure

Mark has direct responsibility for the core strategy, personnel, research, analysis, and commercial planning of the Manufacturing Technology and Smart Infrastructure research practices. He oversees an extensive research portfolio that covers Discrete Automation, Electric Motor Systems, Industrial IoT & Sustainability, Physical Security, Critical Communications & Safe Cities, and Smart Building and Energy Infrastructure.
Mark joined the company in August 2005 and has authored many research projects on a variety of industrial electronic component and end-equipment markets. He has also led custom research engagements and strategic consultancy projects for some of the world’s largest technology providers, and has established new syndicated research on emerging and transformative technologies.
Mark is passionate about developing a team of opinionated and inquisitive analysts and providing customers with consistent quality and insightful research that addresses specific industry challenges.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in management science from the University of Wales, Swansea.

Lisa Wang

Senior Analyst, Manufacturing Technology

As part of Omdia’s Manufacturing Technology team, Lisa Wang focuses on the industrial automation equipment and medium voltage motors segments, with a particular focus on global and regional automation market trends, key factors affecting the automation market, and changes in trends for various industries. Lisa has also carried out extensive research on various segments of the medium voltage motors market.

Lisa joined Omdia (formerly IHS Markit) in 2013. She has been studying the automation market in depth for five years, having previously focused on the Chinese machinery equipment market. Many clients recognize her analyses and insights in the automation field. She is currently based in China.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Tian Jin University of Commerce.

Jessica Nian

Senior Analyst, Data Center Infrastructure

Jessica Nian is a member of Omdia’s Cloud and Data Center Team, where she focuses on the Physical Infrastructure sector, with major expertise in power and cooling markets. She analyzes key developments, future trends, growth drivers, and the competitive landscape within these critical infrastructure segments. Her current research specializations include the evolution of data center power systems and advanced cooling technologies supporting cloud and digital infrastructure. 

Prior to her current role, Jessica contributed to Omdia’s Manufacturing Technology practice, covering areas including motion controls and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Before joining Omdia, she served as a market research analyst at IHS Markit. Her earlier experience includes financial analysis at PwC. Jessica holds a degree in Banking and Finance from Monash University.   

Daisuke Muto

Senior Analyst, Manufacturing Technology

Daisuke works as a market research analyst in the Manufacturing Technology group based in Tokyo, Japan. He covers the industrial markets related to control and visualization, including both world and Japanese markets for industrial products such as programmable logic controllers and I/O modules. He is also conducting the industrial user surveys in the Japanese market. 

Prior to joining Omdia, Daisuke worked in US, European, and Japanese semiconductor companies as a marketing and sales specialist for the industrial, automotive, and consumer spaces.

Joanne Goh

Senior Research Manager, Manufacturing Technology

Joanne is a research manager in Omdia’s manufacturing technology team, covering the Electric Motor System and Discrete, Process, and Capital Equipment research portfolios. She previously worked as the lead analyst for Omdia’s low-voltage motor drives intelligence service. Joanne has also done extensive research on motor-driven equipment and the motors and drives market across all vertical applications. 

Joanne joined Omdia (formerly IHS Markit) in 2015. Previously, she was an equipment/process engineer in a semiconductor company, where she was involved in cross-functional team projects to drive improvements in yield and process productivity.