As consumers, we've already seen the ways the Industrial Revolution has changed electronics and communication. This revolution has similarly begun to impact the automation industry, with packaging companies at the forefront of this transition. Christine Lesher, Associate, ControlsPR — Packaging Digest, says new supply chain models along with mutually dependent relationships between retailers and suppliers are allowing packaging companies to have more flexibility. In this article, Lesher discusses five automation trends U.S. manufacturers are following to stay on top of the competition.