Technology in Industry Report

Industry 4.0 technologies are not just digital tools that get added to the line as we know it—they fundamentally change the line. Today’s manufacturers must have the courage to make this transition. It is not only in their best interest to do so, but will be paramount to their survival and future success.

3D printing is transforming the manufacturing landscape, shifting our collective thinking about how products are made. Today, additive manufacturing enables the fabrication of customized parts on demand, with unique chemical properties that enable a wide range of material usages including metals, polymers, and resins. As additive manufacturing continues to advance, this chapter explores the challenges and opportunities manufacturers are faced with, and the important decisions they must make regarding additive manufacturing that will define their future success.

Distributed manufacturing—or manufacturing performed in a geographically dispersed manner, at small scales, close to the end user—is not a new concept. It can be traced back to before the First Industrial Revolution. But it has gained renewed attention thanks to advances in Industry 4.0 technology and a variety of socio-economic shifts. Advances in information and communication technologies are driving Industry 4.0, making it possible to network people and resources dispersed all over the world. Changes in individual customer tastes has ushered in mass customization. Trade wars and de-globalization sentiments are making supply chains fragile. And, in the aftermath of COVID, persisting supply chain issues are putting more pressure on companies to diversify. Distributed manufacturing allows for faster turnaround, supply chain resiliency, greater flexibility, and environmental sustainability, all while fostering local economies and creating more inclusive manufacturing ecosystems.