pdf Networked manufacturing: The digital future Beliebt

Developed manufacturing nations such as the US, Japan and Germany are under pressure to enhance their manufacturing capabilities. These countries are already falling behind China in terms of competitiveness; in the next five years, they are expected to fall even further behind. At the same time, enhanced manufacturing capabilities are increasingly important for developing nations, especially China, which risk losing their competitive advantage as labour costs continue rising in the medium and long term.

For developed and developing manufacturing economies alike, networked manufacturing— which uses data flows to drive better communication, co-ordination, and control in and around manufacturing—has the potential to secure competitiveness. Making use of such information flows promises greater production flexibility and a host of other benefits. This paper is based on desk research and in-depth interviews with experts including manufacturing professionals, policy makers, and academics. It discusses the promise of networked manufacturing, the conditions that may enable a successful shift to networked manufacturing, and the potential economic impact of digital production.