Authors:
Igor Ivkić
1
;
2
;
Tobias Buhmann
2
;
Burkhard List
3
and
Clemens Gnauer
4
Affiliations:
1
Lancaster University, Lancaster, U.K.
;
2
University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, Eisenstadt, Austria
;
3
b&mi, Wiesmath, Austria
;
4
Forschung Burgenland, Eisenstadt, Austria
Keyword(s):
Cloud Platform, Additive Manufacturing, Manufacturing as a Service, 3D Printer, Cost-Benefit Analysis.
Abstract:
The landscape of traditional industrial manufacturing is undergoing a pivotal shift from resource-intensive production and long supply chains to more sustainable and regionally focused economies. In this evolving scenario, the move towards local, on-demand manufacturing is emerging as a remedy to the environmentally damaging practice of mass-producing products in distant countries and then transporting them over long dis-tances to customers. This paradigm shift significantly empowers customers, giving them greater control over the manufacturing process by enabling on-demand production and favouring local production sites over traditional mass production and extensive shipping practices. In this position paper we propose a cloud-native Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) platform that integrates advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology into a responsive and eco-conscious manufacturing ecosystem. In this context, we propose a high-level architectural design for a cloud-base
d MaaS platform that connects web shops of local stores with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating 3D printers. Furthermore, we outline an experimental design, including a cost-benefit analysis, to empirically evaluate the operational effectiveness and economic feasibility in a cloud-based additive manufacturing ecosystem. The proposed cloud-based MaaS platform enables on-demand additive manufacturing and opens up a profit sharing opportunity between different stakeholders.
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