Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Smart Manufacturing: A Comparative Review of China and Japan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/jaei.4.1.2026.1475Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, China, Japan, Smart Manufacturing, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key enabling technology for accelerating smart manufacturing transformation by enhancing production efficiency, operational flexibility, and intelligent decision-making. This study aims to compare AI adoption in smart manufacturing between China and Japan through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The review synthesizes peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2021 and 2025, retrieved from major academic databases including Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, MDPI, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley Online Library. The analysis focuses on national AI strategies, industrial policies, enabling technologies, manufacturing applications, implementation challenges, and future development trends. The findings reveal that China emphasizes large-scale industrial digitalization supported by strong government policies, extensive industrial internet infrastructure, and rapid AI deployment across manufacturing sectors. In contrast, Japan adopts a human-centered approach that integrates AI with advanced robotics, precision manufacturing, and Society 5.0 initiatives to improve production reliability and sustainability. Despite differences in implementation strategies, both countries demonstrate that AI significantly enhances manufacturing competitiveness through predictive maintenance, intelligent quality inspection, Digital Twin technologies, and production optimization. The study concludes that successful AI adoption depends not only on technological capability but also on policy support, workforce readiness, industrial ecosystems, and sustainable innovation, providing valuable engineering insights for future intelligent manufacturing development.
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