Abstract
Intelligent manufacturing is one of the most important directions in Taiwan's industrial development. In this research, we analyze and synthesize the intelligent manufacturing (IM) development policies of six countries as reference models for Taiwan's IM strategic plan. These nations are the leading technology innovators and solution providers in regards to IM. The study also conducts the comprehensive portfolio analyses of the related patents in three critical layers of IM technologies, i.e., sensor, networking (i.e., connectivity), and application layers. Based on the comparison of Taiwan vs. the other leading countries' patent portfolios, the research derives concluding recommendations for the strategic focuses of industrial engineering and management (IEM) scholars pursuing IM technology research and development.