Companies are driving "smart manufacturing" through the use of data, automation and a more intensive approach to analytics. Simon Jacobson, vice president with Gartner, explains how this trend will impact the way in which product is made in the future -- and what role human beings will play.

What is supply-chain segmentation? How can it help companies to better manage the flow of product and services, both upstream from suppliers and downstream to customers? Jennifer Loveland, research director of Gartner, has some answers.