The Future of Manufacturing?

Mfg.com (AJ) - Wired magazine recently published an article by Chris Anderson titled ‘In The Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are The New Bits.’ It’s purpose is to explore emerging technologies that will move all phases of manufacturing – design, development, production, marketing and distribution – from large industrial entities into the hands of the individual. In the same ways photography and the industries that sprang up around it, Chris explains, the industrial processes and methods of ‘traditional’ manufacturing will also be shattered.

First and foremost, I urge everyone to read this article. Whether you feel its hype or spot-on, it is an extraordinarily lucid, inspired and well-written piece. (Check out this video for a great synopsis.)


But this isn’t something as new as the article implies, either. As technology has become relatively cheap, its empowered industry experts with deep domain expertise to forgo the traditional needs for ’skill’ and to concentrate almost exclusively on service. An article from 2003 that appeared in Modern Machine Shop titled ‘You Can Automate More Than You Think‘ shows clearly that the predictions Chris makes are closer than we may want to believe. This business was formed without the tooling or machining skills once required to make precise medical treatment devices, and greatly improved the time-to-market and service options for patients and providers alike.

As technology, communications and all tools that serve the design-through-manufacture chain become more elegant and affordable, it will change the ways we view and engage manufacturing. It’s that simple.
Here’s hoping we have the clarity to manage that change in ways that are productive and beneficial for everyone. If outsourcing has taught us anything, it’s that.