This assignment requires a review of existing research on smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0, covering various aspects such as its origins, benefits, challenges, and applications. The student needs to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge in this field, including key findings from recent studies and publications. The review should also identify gaps in existing research and suggest potential future directions for investigation. This assignment is suitable for students in engineering, business, or computer science programs, particularly those with interests in manufacturing systems, industrial automation, or data analytics.