March 6, 2025 The Era of Advanced Monitors Enhancing Manufacturing

Smarter monitors are revolutionizing manufacturing—boosting design precision, streamlining workflows and driving sustainable innovation.

By George Toh, VP and GM – Lenovo IDG Visuals Business Unit

The Role of Monitors in Manufacturing’s Digital Evolution

In today’s fast-evolving manufacturing landscape, efficiency and precision are critical. With 92% of manufacturing leaders prioritizing digital transformation and 89% increasing tech investments this year, modern displays have evolved beyond simple visual interfaces. They are now essential tools that drive innovation, improve workflows and enhance operational efficiency.

As manufacturers continue integrating digital solutions, the right monitors can significantly impact design, production and sustainability efforts. Here’s how advanced display technology is revolutionizing modern manufacturing.

Enhancing Design and Modeling Precision

PC monitors are critical for engineering design, CAD modeling and simulations—tasks that demand accuracy and reliability. Accurate color reproduction is essential for creating realistic renderings, ensuring that prototypes or virtual designs closely match the intended final product. Equally important is the ability to see intricate details with clarity, whether in 2D schematics or 3D models, as this precision helps designers identify potential flaws and refine their work before production. Simulation Works reports that large, high-resolution displays with exceptional color performance enable industrial designers to visualize intricate details with clarity, ensuring products meet rigorous quality standards.

For example, with its advanced  and 4K resolution capabilities , the Lenovo ThinkVision 27 3D monitor provides an innovative tool for enhancing depth perception and spatial understanding, offering a more immersive and precise approach to design and modeling.

Optimizing Administrative Workflows

Beyond engineering, modern monitors are increasing administrative efficiency in manufacturing by enhancing workflow visibility through expanded screen real estate.  

One challenge many professionals in industry design, modeling and mechanics  face is unoptimized productivity due to inadequate equipment, which could include small screens with low resolution. Insights from Jon Peddie Research found that professionals using multiple monitors experience up to a 42% increase in productivity, while researchers at The University of Utah found that those working on 24-inch or larger displays complete tasks 52% faster than those using standard 18-inch monitors. Upgrading to larger screens with UHD resolution enhances clarity, enabling more precise and efficient design visualization.

Supporting Sustainability Through Energy Efficiency

It’s no secret that the manufacturing industry is energy intensive. In fact, manufacturing remains one of the largest energy consumers, with the U.S. industrial sector consuming approximately 31 quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs) of energy in 2023—a number equivalent to the annual energy usage of approximately 336.96 million households. Additionally, the International Energy Agency projects that by 2040, manufacturing could nearly double their energy used.

A Smarter Approach to Manufacturing Innovation

Once considered as a single functionality device, modern monitors can do more than show an image. They now come with a plethora of features and technologies that can help streamline operations, increase precision, and promote environmental responsibility. Digital transformation continues to drive innovation, and while technologies such as augmented reality, interactive touch interfaces or AI-driven visual analytics might eventually become widespread, the correct monitors today can help manufacturers remain competitive.  

About the Author
George Toh is Lenovo’s Vice President and General Manager for the Visuals Business in Intelligent Devices Group. Focused on fostering preference for Lenovo’s visuals solutions at a global scale, George is the business and product leader responsible for developing cutting-edge monitors and display solutions that enhance people’s personal and professional experiences. Additionally, he has extensive experience across other tech product categories and business lines, including in printers, accessories, and personal digital devices. In his personal time, George enjoys staying ahead of the latest tech trends and exploring new innovations – from tinkering with gadgets to testing new tech advancements. For more information, visit www.lenovo.com.

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