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You may have heard a lot of buzz about distributed or decentralized manufacturing lately, but what exactly is it? With a traditional manufacturing model, manufacturers produce large batches of products at a single facility before distributing them or storing them in warehouses. With a distributed manufacturing model, manufacturers instead spread out production across several facilities, enabling them to produce products closer to their customers.
Flexible and scalable, distributed manufacturing uses a network of geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities that are linked by distributed manufacturing software to deliver products. By creating parts and products closer to the source of need, manufacturers can make the best use of their resources and stay competitive in today’s marketplace. Let’s explore why many manufacturing companies are making the switch to distributed manufacturing and unpack some of its key benefits.
Why companies are switching to distributed manufacturing
Companies typically turn to distributed manufacturing when faced with an expanding market or increased demand. However, new market conditions – including responses to the coronavirus pandemic, supply chain concerns, and pressure to reduce costs – have motivated companies to accelerate the switch to distributed manufacturing.
COVID-19 has changed everything, including the way companies manufacture and distribute products. During the pandemic, there have been a variety of supply chain issues due to travel bans and delivery difficulties, and many manufacturers have found themselves unprepared for sudden changes. If your single supply chain fails or you suddenly have restricted access to your main factory due to travel bans, all of your operations come to a grinding halt.
Distributing your manufacturing needs across several factories in different locations will significantly reduce these risks. By turning to a decentralized production model, your supply chain can more easily adapt to new circumstances and shortages, giving you the options you need to maintain stable production in a changing world.
The benefits of decentralized manufacturing
With all the benefits distributed manufacturing has to offer, it’s no surprise that companies are embracing decentralized manufacturing strategies. Here are some of the biggest benefits of distributed manufacturing:
- Faster turnaround times: Decentralized manufacturing can reduce the time between production and sale. Making products closer to their point of need creates shorter supply chains and shipping times, and you’ll be able to deliver parts to your customers faster.
- Lower production costs: With traditional manufacturing, it’s most cost-effective to manufacture parts in bulk. With a distributed approach, lower shipping costs, minimal tariffs, and decreased waste can help drive down costs even when producing at lower volumes.
- Improved sustainability: By shifting production to decentralized factories, your goods won’t have to travel as far to get to your customers, which can reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Lower-volume production – especially using methods like 3D printing – can also help decrease waste both in terms of part obsoletion from large order quantities and by producing minimal excess material waste during the manufacturing process.
- Greater flexibility: Distributed manufacturing makes your supply chain more agile. You can pivot quickly when multiple factories are equipped to make your parts with high quality standards and respond rapidly when circumstances beyond your control – like material shortages or trade route blockages – impact your products. Plus, taking local raw materials into account as you develop your distributed manufacturing strategy can reduce the need to import materials, further shortening your supply chain.
Join the distributed manufacturing movement
The distributed manufacturing model offers increased flexibility, faster turnaround, and more sustainable products. The many benefits of decentralized manufacturing make it more than worthwhile for most companies, and technology – like the build package in our Cloud Manufacturing Platform™ – makes it easier than ever to ensure standard quality and processes around the world.
At Fast Radius, we’ve already tapped into the distributed manufacturing trend through our network of microfactories. Simply upload your parts to our Cloud Manufacturing Platform for access to factories worldwide with rigorous quality assurance processes. When you partner with Fast Radius, we provide the necessary technology and manufacturing expertise to produce your parts quickly and accurately in any of our microfactories. Contact us today to get started.
Visit our resource center to learn more about manufacturing trends, including the latest in sustainable manufacturing, plastics and injection molding trends, and developments in CNC machining.