The document discusses trends in the manufacturing industry and how IFS applications are prepared to help customers address these trends. It outlines that margins are under pressure in manufacturing as frequent product changes and new technologies drive needs for speed, advanced planning, and lifecycle management. Emerging trends discussed include a focus on productivity, mobility, user-centric design, and expanding into new service offerings. IFS applications are presented as solutions that can help manufacturers improve productivity, enable mobile access, focus on user needs, and manage new service businesses.