GADBT Participation In The Future Of Distributed Manufacturing
Distributed manufacturing will overturn business models for many companies that make products – and even for many that do not. It’s no wonder the approach was identified as atop-10 emerging “technology” by the World Economic Forum.
Traditional manufacturing brings together raw materials or components and assembles them in a large, centralized factory. The output is many identical products that are then shipped to distribution points.
Distributed manufacturing turns this model around. Raw materials and components remain decentralized. Final assembly occurs on a much more individualized basis, close to the customer, with products often shipped direct to the end consumer.
As the World Economic Forum points out, with distributed manufacturing much of the material in the supply chain is replaced with digital information. So a company like AtFAB, a U.S. maker of wood furniture, replaces the aggregation of wood materials in a single factory with the distribution of computerized numerical control (CNC) files to localized
manufacturing sites.
But distributed manufacturing isn’t just an alternative way of making things. It involves a complete rethinking of what it means to be a manufacturer. And it has implications for other stakeholders in the supply chain, from suppliers to logistics service providers. In the next few years, look for these four transformations:
1. *3D printing* – The most obvious changes to come from distributed manufacturing involve production processes. And 3D printing will be integral to the new way of making things. While additive manufacturing may seem limited by the materials that can leverage the technology, innovative companies have developed a surprising number of applications. From footwear to foods, from aerospace parts to car chassis, from medical devices to tissues and organs,3D printing is
revolutionizing the way products are built.
2. *Supply chain –* Up and down the supply chain, your partners and the roles they play will change substantially. First, you’ll source raw materials differently, or maybe not at all. Instead of aggregating materials at a central location, you’ll have them shipped to distributed locations. Or, you’ll provide digitized instructions to your downstream manufacturing partners, and they’ll do the sourcing themselves. Second, shipping will move closer to the customer. That has implications for you, but also for your logistics partners. Major shippers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL already operate logistics centers for large manufacturers. Instead of stocking physical products in these facilities, they’ll increasingly “store” inventory virtually and manufacture it on demand. In fact, their business may become less about shipping products and more about making them.
3. *Customer relationships –* Distributed manufacturing requires a very different approach to how you develop and maintain relationships with customers. You’re no longer flooding the market with large quantities of a mass-produced product. Instead, you’re producing for something closer and closer to a market of one. And as you and your competitors achieve faster, better customization, you’ll raise the bar on customer expectations. As a consequence, you’ll need to
capture and respond to customer desires more specifically than you have in the past. You’ll also need to interact with customers through a growing range of downstream partners – the localized manufacturers and logistics providers that are your direct link to the end consumer.
4. *Workforce –* Workers will no longer be centralized in large facilities. Instead, they’ll operate at smaller, distributed sites.
They’ll rely increasingly on electronic files and mobile apps. And they’ll require entirely new skill sets. That means recruiting,
training and retaining a very different workforce. In the oil and gas industry, for instance,techniques similar to 3D printing
are transforming the maintenance of drilling equipment. “[Workers] don’t have to have experience working with metal,” Doug Hamre, head of R&D for Apollo-Clad, told a reporter. “They need to be comfortable running a computer.”
Distributed manufacturing won’t be without its challenges. For one thing, not every product can be produced in a distributed model – which means you may need to adopt new approaches while maintaining old ones. And in the short term, you may struggle to manage distributed processes and partners.
But the advantages are substantial: less wasted manufacturing capacity, reduced transportation costs and environmental impact, lower barriers to entry into new markets, and the ability to get closer to customers. There are too many potential benefits for your competitors not to move forward with distributed manufacturing. That probably means you’ll have
to move forward, too.
/For more real-time supply chain strategies, read the research report by
SAP “Digitizing the Extended Supply Chain: How to Survive and Thrive in
Today’s Digital Economy on real-time optimization of business processes./
Even as technology has advanced, the current manufacturing process is still rife with challenges and inefficiencies. Offshore manufacturing with volume producers presents serious communication challenges, such as language barriers, time zones, and many layers of sales and logistics in between you and your actual manufacturer.
Because of this, distributed manufacturing has arisen as a potential alternative, leveraging a network of geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities that are connected by online technology.
/Our manufacturing engine leverages a network of distributed machines/
Distributed manufacturing is quickly reinventing the manufacturing industry from something monolithic and closed to something transparent and nimble. It allows builders to choose from a variety of machines, materials, and quantities, all located nearby, with unparalleled flexibility, quality, and speed.
By relying on a network of producers in a specific geographic area, rather than a single overseas manufacturer, distributed manufacturing can deliver superior results in three key ways: speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Distributed Manufacturing is Faster At Fictiv, we’ve seen a trend towards smaller, leaner teams developing products, both in startups and large enterprises. This means that the competition is tighter than ever, and the ability to iterate early and often can make a team extremely competitive. Using a distributed manufacturing model that takes advantage of local resources allows companies the ability to do multiple revisions in the time it would take to do one order with a large manufacturer, thanks to reduced transit time and fewer logistics.
/The chaotic web that is traditional manufacturing/
Because connectivity is integral to distributed manufacturing, communication is also streamlined via online tools (like Fictiv!
) that smooth translation errors and decrease the amount of time between revisions.
Working with versatile local fabricators for prototyping and low volume production allows engineers to be more efficient with their time and bring products to market as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Distributed Manufacturing Delivers Superior Quality In this new era of lean hardware development, small,local manufacturers are integral to the success of distributed manufacturing
High-volume manufacturers often lose quality due to sheer units of scale and communication barriers. Small shops, on the other hand, often have decades of experience in producing consistent, high-quality work.
/Jared Murnan fromModdler , //one of thetop 3D printing shops in the Bay Area /
Distributed manufacturing surfaces the top local manufacturers in your area and allows you to choose the best specialists for your needs. Fictiv’s network is comprised of the very best local manufacturers tooffer specialists in every type of production. Our system automatically routes you to immediately available machines that meet yourspecifications. You can learn more about the Fictiv networkhere
Distributed Manufacturing is More Cost-Effective The bulk order method of outdated manufacturing processes is a risky
affair, with mistakes proving extremely costly. For prototyping, many organizations and individuals choose to purchase their own machines, which, aswe’ve highlighted before is not only cost prohibitive to many small companies, but also incredibly
inefficient.
One of the biggest cost considerations for which companies often fail to budget is the cost of operating and maintaining machines. Prototyping and manufacturing machines (both additive and subtractive) are complex and highly tuned. Without proper maintenance, they won’t perform properly, which leads to failed parts, downtime, and a whole lot of
frustration.
/A professional 3D printer/
Distributed manufacturing requires significantly less up-front capital than traditional manufacturing, and it doesn’t require the constant maintenance of owning and operating machines. By leveraging the expertise of local operators with decades of quality experience, you’ll gain more time and money to continue to iterate on your product.
Distributed Manufacturing Will Democratize Hardware
Distributed manufacturing allows organizations in cities and small towns that have been affected by globalization and outsourced manufacturing to produce parts with less capital and overhead than ever before, helping hardware innovation continue to grow at exponential rates. Over time, the local engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and fabricators in those
regions will form their own interconnected ecosystem and support eachother’s growth and the development of the local economy.
When these groups are connected and have the resources they need to be successful, we can lower the barrier to entry into hardware development and positively affect local economies./This is how we begin to democratize hardware./
Ready to leverage the power of distributed manufacturing for faster hardware development? Head on over to Fictiv to learn more or create an account .
Written by
Madelynn Martiniere
Fictiv Director of Community. Lover of coffee, large dogs, and mountains.Learn More ?
Build Better Hardware.
Experience the power of distributed manufacturing for more efficient
production with Fictiv's online platform. Get 3D printed parts in 24
hours and CNC machined parts in just 3 days.
GET STARTED
Learn More >
https://www.fictiv.com/blog/posts/the-advantages-of-distributed-manufacturing
The GADBT has plans to support the future of printing and distributed manufacturing by retrofitting our business model with feed-stock manufacturing capabilities which will, in-turn, support the industry.
Distributed manufacturing: a 21st century renaissance?
MAY 12TH, 2015|BY DENNIS BELLA
Traditional manufacturing could one day morph into a distributed manufacturing model. Thanks to the latest advancements in additive manufacturing and online collaboration, today’s startups are embracing the concept for localized, customized, and decentralized manufacturing. We’ve all been acclimated to post-industrial revolution manufacturing.
Company A has a design they would like to produce and mass market.
Company B just so happens to specialize in turning A’s design into areality. Resources are accumulated, staff is trained, and machinery is re-tooled for new manufacturing. Company A and B now share a direct symbiotic relationship with one another. However, there are caveats.
The ebb and flow of production, distribution, and sales are now joined at the hip. Raw materials are purchased in bulk, guarantees are made, and risk factors increase. A given volume of product must be manufactured according to demand, forecasts are committed, and a given number of product must be sold in order for A or B to stay profitable.
Distributed manufacturing decentralizes traditional manufacturing and takes supply chain strategies to a new level like never before. Backed by the internet, we’re no longer bound by the geography of a single factory, designer, or distributor. A
smaller volume of parts can be made on a cheaper scale when compared to traditional high-volume manufacturing. Apart from the benefits of working with localized specialty manufacturers, the real prize is extensive customization for products that was not economically feasible in the past for high-volume manufacturing. Whereas traditional manufacturing is usually bound to a linear approach in its design, tooling, and methods, a distributed model allows for specialized manufacturers, 21^st century craftsman, and sellers with particular talents to focus on what they do best while sustaining profitability in
globally competitive markets.
In our brave new world, Company A can now design, produce, and assemble a new wristwatch line that offers a profound level of customization for their users. Leveraging the power of the internet, they hire local designers who focus on this industry and offer the talents necessary to create their vision. Those new designs are sent to local 3D printers,
desktop CNC routers, or prototyping specialists that are not only geographically closer to home, but also offer various design and manufacturing capabilities. With the synchronicity of an orchestra,
Company A acts as the conductor, bringing parts and supplies together for production like never before. With online collaboration, the entire watch assembly can be procured and produced on a localized level. At one zip code, the watch bands are made to order. In another, the dial buttons are customized according to the end-user’s needs. The supply chain leads back to Company A for final assembly and customization, then shipped directly to customers, retailers, or distributors. With distributed manufacturing, there’s no need to anticipate a bulk volume shipment of watchbands arriving from a single-focused mass producer halfway around the world. Using decentralized services that focus on watchmaking, you’re leveraging a diverse range of custom bands from a defined network of specialty providers geographically closer to home. In this brave new world, supply chains are redefined thanks to a combination of specialized additive manufacturing technologies, open source movements, and online collaboration. From small independent makers to enterprises, key advantages are taking shape:
*Less capital investment risk*
Since you now have a decentralized manufacturing base with multiple capabilities to choose from, you depend less on permanent investment for manufacturing equipment and tooling. Using online collaboration, easily search for and acquire the services of a low volume specialty producer to fabricate the parts you need according to your custom specifications.
In addition, it helps your company insulate itself from the burden of unused equipment and employee costs should business slow or experience market downturns.
*Increased use of open source and/or free collaboration tools*
Open source and/or free distributed manufacturing applications help link designers, inventors, micro-fabricators, and low volume factories in revolutionizing their sourcing strategy. In addition, the world of licensing costs for applications and program interoperability become minimized. Open source tools provide the necessary infrastructure that can allow small or large scale manufacturers to compete with versatile and agile operation. Tools likeSyncFAB and BOT Queue are
already beginning to rise in popularity with open distributed manufacturing.
*Environmental sustainability*
Energy and raw material savings also play a substantial role. Traditional manufacturing (subtractive manufacturing ) requires the removal of raw material during production. To achieve the desired part, multiple runs with different equipment is required. With 3D printing, that same object could be produced in a single production run with a single machine, resulting in near-net shape manufacturing. Near-net shape manufacturing is the production of a product without requiring substantial equipment operation, raw material removal, and finishing. Substantial savings in energy, material waste, and logistics make distributed manufacturing a compelling advantage in business.
*Diverse choices in design and manufacturing talent*
Online collaboration is a force multiplier for your existing talent base. With distributed manufacturing, easily choose the best designer, specialist, or craftsman to work with online. You’re no longer bound by the talent of one particular company that may only offer broad capabilities instead of specific specialties. You’ll be able to choose a local manufacturer with a niche, helping your design exceed in performance, reliability, and aesthetics.
For example, working with a localized manufacturer that specifically focuses on unique, “made-to-order”, rubber watch bands equates the necessary skillset and design experience for your target market. This is an enormous competitive advantage when compared to using a manufacturer half way around the world who produces a broad range of rubberized
products.AtFAB , for example, is a furniture design shop that not only sells their own products, but also provides the plans
to download for free. These designs can be sent to any CNC router for customization.
*Lower costs of production and increased productivity*
Since additive manufacturing means near-net shape objects with minimal raw materials expended, additional costs are observed. The energy costs, time, and output for running a single 3D printer or custom CNC machine compared to multiple manufacturing runs for a single object is dramatic. Working with geographically independent manufacturers also helps
streamline distribution and production.
*Enhanced logistics and time-savings*
By working with local specialty manufacturers in a decentralized network of providers, transportation costs are lower when compared to working with a company overseas. By utilizing and combining local specialty manufacturers, easily speed up your product’s time to market.
*Less need to anticipate production volume*
Using distributed manufacturing also means having a better handle on anticipating your stock, raw materials, and inventory. Coupled with intelligent supply chain management, you have greater flexibility in producing products according to demand.
Traditional manufacturing brings together raw materials or components and assembles them in a large, centralized factory. The output is many identical products that are then shipped to distribution points.
Distributed manufacturing turns this model around. Raw materials and components remain decentralized. Final assembly occurs on a much more individualized basis, close to the customer, with products often shipped direct to the end consumer.
As the World Economic Forum points out, with distributed manufacturing much of the material in the supply chain is replaced with digital information. So a company like AtFAB, a U.S. maker of wood furniture, replaces the aggregation of wood materials in a single factory with the distribution of computerized numerical control (CNC) files to localized
manufacturing sites.
But distributed manufacturing isn’t just an alternative way of making things. It involves a complete rethinking of what it means to be a manufacturer. And it has implications for other stakeholders in the supply chain, from suppliers to logistics service providers. In the next few years, look for these four transformations:
1. *3D printing* – The most obvious changes to come from distributed manufacturing involve production processes. And 3D printing will be integral to the new way of making things. While additive manufacturing may seem limited by the materials that can leverage the technology, innovative companies have developed a surprising number of applications. From footwear to foods, from aerospace parts to car chassis, from medical devices to tissues and organs,3D printing is
revolutionizing the way products are built.
2. *Supply chain –* Up and down the supply chain, your partners and the roles they play will change substantially. First, you’ll source raw materials differently, or maybe not at all. Instead of aggregating materials at a central location, you’ll have them shipped to distributed locations. Or, you’ll provide digitized instructions to your downstream manufacturing partners, and they’ll do the sourcing themselves. Second, shipping will move closer to the customer. That has implications for you, but also for your logistics partners. Major shippers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL already operate logistics centers for large manufacturers. Instead of stocking physical products in these facilities, they’ll increasingly “store” inventory virtually and manufacture it on demand. In fact, their business may become less about shipping products and more about making them.
3. *Customer relationships –* Distributed manufacturing requires a very different approach to how you develop and maintain relationships with customers. You’re no longer flooding the market with large quantities of a mass-produced product. Instead, you’re producing for something closer and closer to a market of one. And as you and your competitors achieve faster, better customization, you’ll raise the bar on customer expectations. As a consequence, you’ll need to
capture and respond to customer desires more specifically than you have in the past. You’ll also need to interact with customers through a growing range of downstream partners – the localized manufacturers and logistics providers that are your direct link to the end consumer.
4. *Workforce –* Workers will no longer be centralized in large facilities. Instead, they’ll operate at smaller, distributed sites.
They’ll rely increasingly on electronic files and mobile apps. And they’ll require entirely new skill sets. That means recruiting,
training and retaining a very different workforce. In the oil and gas industry, for instance,techniques similar to 3D printing
are transforming the maintenance of drilling equipment. “[Workers] don’t have to have experience working with metal,” Doug Hamre, head of R&D for Apollo-Clad, told a reporter. “They need to be comfortable running a computer.”
Distributed manufacturing won’t be without its challenges. For one thing, not every product can be produced in a distributed model – which means you may need to adopt new approaches while maintaining old ones. And in the short term, you may struggle to manage distributed processes and partners.
But the advantages are substantial: less wasted manufacturing capacity, reduced transportation costs and environmental impact, lower barriers to entry into new markets, and the ability to get closer to customers. There are too many potential benefits for your competitors not to move forward with distributed manufacturing. That probably means you’ll have
to move forward, too.
/For more real-time supply chain strategies, read the research report by
SAP “Digitizing the Extended Supply Chain: How to Survive and Thrive in
Today’s Digital Economy on real-time optimization of business processes./
Even as technology has advanced, the current manufacturing process is still rife with challenges and inefficiencies. Offshore manufacturing with volume producers presents serious communication challenges, such as language barriers, time zones, and many layers of sales and logistics in between you and your actual manufacturer.
Because of this, distributed manufacturing has arisen as a potential alternative, leveraging a network of geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities that are connected by online technology.
/Our manufacturing engine leverages a network of distributed machines/
Distributed manufacturing is quickly reinventing the manufacturing industry from something monolithic and closed to something transparent and nimble. It allows builders to choose from a variety of machines, materials, and quantities, all located nearby, with unparalleled flexibility, quality, and speed.
By relying on a network of producers in a specific geographic area, rather than a single overseas manufacturer, distributed manufacturing can deliver superior results in three key ways: speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Distributed Manufacturing is Faster At Fictiv, we’ve seen a trend towards smaller, leaner teams developing products, both in startups and large enterprises. This means that the competition is tighter than ever, and the ability to iterate early and often can make a team extremely competitive. Using a distributed manufacturing model that takes advantage of local resources allows companies the ability to do multiple revisions in the time it would take to do one order with a large manufacturer, thanks to reduced transit time and fewer logistics.
/The chaotic web that is traditional manufacturing/
Because connectivity is integral to distributed manufacturing, communication is also streamlined via online tools (like Fictiv!
) that smooth translation errors and decrease the amount of time between revisions.
Working with versatile local fabricators for prototyping and low volume production allows engineers to be more efficient with their time and bring products to market as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Distributed Manufacturing Delivers Superior Quality In this new era of lean hardware development, small,local manufacturers are integral to the success of distributed manufacturing
High-volume manufacturers often lose quality due to sheer units of scale and communication barriers. Small shops, on the other hand, often have decades of experience in producing consistent, high-quality work.
/Jared Murnan fromModdler , //one of thetop 3D printing shops in the Bay Area /
Distributed manufacturing surfaces the top local manufacturers in your area and allows you to choose the best specialists for your needs. Fictiv’s network is comprised of the very best local manufacturers tooffer specialists in every type of production. Our system automatically routes you to immediately available machines that meet yourspecifications. You can learn more about the Fictiv networkhere
Distributed Manufacturing is More Cost-Effective The bulk order method of outdated manufacturing processes is a risky
affair, with mistakes proving extremely costly. For prototyping, many organizations and individuals choose to purchase their own machines, which, aswe’ve highlighted before is not only cost prohibitive to many small companies, but also incredibly
inefficient.
One of the biggest cost considerations for which companies often fail to budget is the cost of operating and maintaining machines. Prototyping and manufacturing machines (both additive and subtractive) are complex and highly tuned. Without proper maintenance, they won’t perform properly, which leads to failed parts, downtime, and a whole lot of
frustration.
/A professional 3D printer/
Distributed manufacturing requires significantly less up-front capital than traditional manufacturing, and it doesn’t require the constant maintenance of owning and operating machines. By leveraging the expertise of local operators with decades of quality experience, you’ll gain more time and money to continue to iterate on your product.
Distributed Manufacturing Will Democratize Hardware
Distributed manufacturing allows organizations in cities and small towns that have been affected by globalization and outsourced manufacturing to produce parts with less capital and overhead than ever before, helping hardware innovation continue to grow at exponential rates. Over time, the local engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and fabricators in those
regions will form their own interconnected ecosystem and support eachother’s growth and the development of the local economy.
When these groups are connected and have the resources they need to be successful, we can lower the barrier to entry into hardware development and positively affect local economies./This is how we begin to democratize hardware./
Ready to leverage the power of distributed manufacturing for faster hardware development? Head on over to Fictiv to learn more or create an account .
Written by
Madelynn Martiniere
Fictiv Director of Community. Lover of coffee, large dogs, and mountains.Learn More ?
Build Better Hardware.
Experience the power of distributed manufacturing for more efficient
production with Fictiv's online platform. Get 3D printed parts in 24
hours and CNC machined parts in just 3 days.
GET STARTED
Learn More >
https://www.fictiv.com/blog/posts/the-advantages-of-distributed-manufacturing
The GADBT has plans to support the future of printing and distributed manufacturing by retrofitting our business model with feed-stock manufacturing capabilities which will, in-turn, support the industry.
Distributed manufacturing: a 21st century renaissance?
MAY 12TH, 2015|BY DENNIS BELLA
Traditional manufacturing could one day morph into a distributed manufacturing model. Thanks to the latest advancements in additive manufacturing and online collaboration, today’s startups are embracing the concept for localized, customized, and decentralized manufacturing. We’ve all been acclimated to post-industrial revolution manufacturing.
Company A has a design they would like to produce and mass market.
Company B just so happens to specialize in turning A’s design into areality. Resources are accumulated, staff is trained, and machinery is re-tooled for new manufacturing. Company A and B now share a direct symbiotic relationship with one another. However, there are caveats.
The ebb and flow of production, distribution, and sales are now joined at the hip. Raw materials are purchased in bulk, guarantees are made, and risk factors increase. A given volume of product must be manufactured according to demand, forecasts are committed, and a given number of product must be sold in order for A or B to stay profitable.
Distributed manufacturing decentralizes traditional manufacturing and takes supply chain strategies to a new level like never before. Backed by the internet, we’re no longer bound by the geography of a single factory, designer, or distributor. A
smaller volume of parts can be made on a cheaper scale when compared to traditional high-volume manufacturing. Apart from the benefits of working with localized specialty manufacturers, the real prize is extensive customization for products that was not economically feasible in the past for high-volume manufacturing. Whereas traditional manufacturing is usually bound to a linear approach in its design, tooling, and methods, a distributed model allows for specialized manufacturers, 21^st century craftsman, and sellers with particular talents to focus on what they do best while sustaining profitability in
globally competitive markets.
In our brave new world, Company A can now design, produce, and assemble a new wristwatch line that offers a profound level of customization for their users. Leveraging the power of the internet, they hire local designers who focus on this industry and offer the talents necessary to create their vision. Those new designs are sent to local 3D printers,
desktop CNC routers, or prototyping specialists that are not only geographically closer to home, but also offer various design and manufacturing capabilities. With the synchronicity of an orchestra,
Company A acts as the conductor, bringing parts and supplies together for production like never before. With online collaboration, the entire watch assembly can be procured and produced on a localized level. At one zip code, the watch bands are made to order. In another, the dial buttons are customized according to the end-user’s needs. The supply chain leads back to Company A for final assembly and customization, then shipped directly to customers, retailers, or distributors. With distributed manufacturing, there’s no need to anticipate a bulk volume shipment of watchbands arriving from a single-focused mass producer halfway around the world. Using decentralized services that focus on watchmaking, you’re leveraging a diverse range of custom bands from a defined network of specialty providers geographically closer to home. In this brave new world, supply chains are redefined thanks to a combination of specialized additive manufacturing technologies, open source movements, and online collaboration. From small independent makers to enterprises, key advantages are taking shape:
*Less capital investment risk*
Since you now have a decentralized manufacturing base with multiple capabilities to choose from, you depend less on permanent investment for manufacturing equipment and tooling. Using online collaboration, easily search for and acquire the services of a low volume specialty producer to fabricate the parts you need according to your custom specifications.
In addition, it helps your company insulate itself from the burden of unused equipment and employee costs should business slow or experience market downturns.
*Increased use of open source and/or free collaboration tools*
Open source and/or free distributed manufacturing applications help link designers, inventors, micro-fabricators, and low volume factories in revolutionizing their sourcing strategy. In addition, the world of licensing costs for applications and program interoperability become minimized. Open source tools provide the necessary infrastructure that can allow small or large scale manufacturers to compete with versatile and agile operation. Tools likeSyncFAB and BOT Queue are
already beginning to rise in popularity with open distributed manufacturing.
*Environmental sustainability*
Energy and raw material savings also play a substantial role. Traditional manufacturing (subtractive manufacturing ) requires the removal of raw material during production. To achieve the desired part, multiple runs with different equipment is required. With 3D printing, that same object could be produced in a single production run with a single machine, resulting in near-net shape manufacturing. Near-net shape manufacturing is the production of a product without requiring substantial equipment operation, raw material removal, and finishing. Substantial savings in energy, material waste, and logistics make distributed manufacturing a compelling advantage in business.
*Diverse choices in design and manufacturing talent*
Online collaboration is a force multiplier for your existing talent base. With distributed manufacturing, easily choose the best designer, specialist, or craftsman to work with online. You’re no longer bound by the talent of one particular company that may only offer broad capabilities instead of specific specialties. You’ll be able to choose a local manufacturer with a niche, helping your design exceed in performance, reliability, and aesthetics.
For example, working with a localized manufacturer that specifically focuses on unique, “made-to-order”, rubber watch bands equates the necessary skillset and design experience for your target market. This is an enormous competitive advantage when compared to using a manufacturer half way around the world who produces a broad range of rubberized
products.AtFAB , for example, is a furniture design shop that not only sells their own products, but also provides the plans
to download for free. These designs can be sent to any CNC router for customization.
*Lower costs of production and increased productivity*
Since additive manufacturing means near-net shape objects with minimal raw materials expended, additional costs are observed. The energy costs, time, and output for running a single 3D printer or custom CNC machine compared to multiple manufacturing runs for a single object is dramatic. Working with geographically independent manufacturers also helps
streamline distribution and production.
*Enhanced logistics and time-savings*
By working with local specialty manufacturers in a decentralized network of providers, transportation costs are lower when compared to working with a company overseas. By utilizing and combining local specialty manufacturers, easily speed up your product’s time to market.
*Less need to anticipate production volume*
Using distributed manufacturing also means having a better handle on anticipating your stock, raw materials, and inventory. Coupled with intelligent supply chain management, you have greater flexibility in producing products according to demand.
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