Process analysis is a transdisciplinary technology. Process chemists, process engineers, chemometricians, and many other technologists must work together and put more emphasis on the essentials of science of each discipline. This perspective analyzes potential strategies for intelligent production in the future. It emphasizes the need for a holistic approach where multimodality will be a bedrock supporting the production of smart materials in smart factories. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.