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It can sometimes seem like there are a dizzying array of new buzzwords with little tangible benefit. This isn’t helped by a lack of clarity in just what differentiates the various models and technologies.
Although the technologies all have a different emphasis, they all involve cooperation and sharing of resources using a digital network. This overarching trend is often referred to as Industry 4.0 and its key enabling technologies include the internet of things (IoT), cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Cloud manufacturing (CMfg) is a model of how Industry 4.0 can improve resource utilisation, reduce overhead costs and increase flexibility by enabling resources to be efficiently shared between facilities and organisations. This can mean reducing capital expense by switching to pay-as-you-go manufacturing services. Ultimately, it could improve the optimisation of industry, enabling operations to be carried out where they will be most efficient in terms of cost, resource, energy, waste management and so forth. It will enable greater specialisation and division of manufacturing, with firms being more able to concentrate on their core business when they can easily access whatever manufacturing services they need.
The core aim of cloud manufacturing is to enable resources and capabilities to be available for on-demand use, resulting in sharing and high utilisation. This is realised by intelligently sensing and connecting resources into the internet. IoT technologies will allow the resources, such as machines, software and systems, to be automatically managed and controlled.
One overall solution
The resources and capabilities are effectively virtualised, so they can be accessed as a manufacturing cloud service (MCS). It then becomes possible for users to search for a service based on their precise requirements which may include cost, quality and delivery time. Users can combine various manufacturing services.
There are three types of users who can benefit from cloud manufacturing:
Providers own and operate manufacturing resources and capabilities. They benefit from increased utilisation and may operate at any scale, from an individual professional to a multinational.
Consumers purchase resources and capabilities, using the cloud manufacturing platform to quickly and efficiently find the best providers.
Operators provide the online cloud manufacturing platform which connects the consumers with the providers.
From the consumer’s perspective, cloud manufacturing means instant quotes and hassle-free supply of parts. A CAD model can be uploaded to a website and the price to manufacture it will be available in seconds. One exciting aspect of cloud computing is that it will dedicate much more of the manufacturing resource to prototyping and small batches. This will allow designers and entrepreneurs to iterate, improve and try out new ideas. This can only be a good thing for creativity and choice. It will also mean that small businesses won’t have an economy of scale disadvantage, which should drive a much more efficient industrial economy.
Cloud manufacturing is still an emerging technology. Although some companies such as Protolabs offer highly virtualised manufacturing services, we are still a very long way from being able to access the shared resources of global industry.
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.