This study focuses on the constitutive characteristics, dissipative structure, dissipative process, modeling mechanism, and other physical essence concerning the manufacturing processes of the process manufacturing industry. The petrochemical and steel industries are used as the major research objects in the study. It integrates intelligence with the concept of cyber-physical systems (CPS) to investigate the possible approaches for realizing self-sensing, self-learning, self-decision-making, self-execution, and self-adaptation of plant-wide dynamic processes including operation, management, and service. It also studies the approaches for building a CPSbased intelligent factory. Furthermore, the goals, characteristics, and paths are proposed for the intelligent development of the process manufacturing industry toward 2035; and countermeasures and suggestions are also proposed regarding mechanism construction, science and technology project, financial support, technology research and development, intellectual property, and international communication.