Distributed Manufacturing: Make Things Where You Need Them

Abstract

In contrast to mass manufacturing, distributed manufacturing involves making products in many locations around the world, close to where they will be used. In the same way that the internet has democratized access to information, there is the potential for a decentralized system of production to democratize the manufacturing function. This chapter gives an overview of Distributed Manufacturing and suggests how companies may be able to think differently about their value chains. Many of the examples discussed are from emerging economies, where weak supply chain infrastructure can lead to high distribution costs that make distributed manufacturing attractive at an earlier stage of its development.