Distributed manufacturing for and by the masses

Distribution and democratization represent two complementary paradigms that are gaining increasing attention in manufacturing. Distributed manufacturing (DM) allows for geographically dispersed production, often at small scales and near the end user. Democratization enables large populations to engage in manufacturing. Massively distributed manufacturing (MDM), which combines these paradigms, is performed on demand by a large network of people located anywhere. Rather than rely on mass production in centralized factories, MDM promises to improve the responsiveness and resilience of manufacturing to urgent production demands (such as emergencies like pandemics); promote mass customization and cost-effective, low-volume production; gainfully employ many informally trained citizens in manufacturing (such as through the gig economy); and reduce the environmental footprint of manufacturing by producing items near their points of use. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will play an important role in enabling MDM by way of cyber-physical operating systems (CPOSs).

Related Keywords

, United Nations International Development Organization , World Economic Forum , Fourth Industrial Revolution , First Industrial Revolution , Fast Radius , Third Industrial Revolutions , ஒன்றுபட்டது நாடுகள் சர்வதேச வளர்ச்சி ஆர்கநைஸேஶந் , உலகம் பொருளாதார மன்றம் , நான்காவது தொழில்துறை புரட்சி , முதல் தொழில்துறை புரட்சி , வேகமாக ஆரம் , மூன்றாவது தொழில்துறை புரட்சிகள் ,