In recent years, driven by China’s dual carbon goals and the ongoing transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector, the CNC precision machining industry has quietly entered a new phase marked by “smart manufacturing + green production.”
According to data released by the China Machinery Industry Federation, in the first half of 2025, more than 38% of small and medium-sized CNC machining enterprises nationwide had introduced intelligent systems such as MES (Manufacturing Execution System), automated loading and unloading robotic arms, and AI-based path optimization. These upgrades have enabled partial automation of the entire production process — from blueprints to final delivery — effectively reducing labor costs and significantly improving yield rates.
“In the past, we had to rely on experienced technicians to manually adjust tool paths. Now, the software can directly recommend optimal paths, tools, and cutting parameters, eliminating a lot of unnecessary trial cuts,” said a factory manager from Suzhou, Jiangsu. Since implementing their new system, their monthly tool consumption has decreased by 22%, and manual programming time has been reduced by more than 50%.
Beyond smart manufacturing, green practices are a rising industry focus. Many companies now use water-soluble cutting fluids. They are also adopting energy-efficient spindle motors. Some even power equipment with solar panels. These efforts aim to reduce their carbon footprint. A machining park in Shandong has advanced further. It uses AI to coordinate plant-wide energy schedules. This system avoids simultaneous startup of heavy-load equipment during peak hours. The result has been significant energy savings.
Industry experts point out a key trend. Within the next five years, green energy efficiency will become a core competitiveness metric. Intelligent systems will also be vital for evaluating a CNC factory. For small and medium-sized enterprises, escaping the “red ocean” of price competition is crucial. Their path forward lies in improving across multiple dimensions. This includes boosting machining efficiency and process stability. Enhancing environmental performance is also essential. They must move beyond relying solely on cost advantages.
