Microfactory

A microfactory either refers to a capital-light facility used for the local assembly of a complex product or system or a small (normally automated) factory for producing small quantities of products. The term was proposed by the Mechanical Engineer Laboratory (MEL) of Japan in 1990 and has recently been used to describe the approach of manufacturers like Local Motors and Arrival. A microfactory can also refer to a factory designed for flexible small batch production that can produce a wide variety of products as opposed to a single monolithic mass production type approach. Typically the manufacturing processes of microfactories take advantage of digital fabrication technology such as 3D printing and CNC machines in order to accomplish this. For example, Local Motors had microfactories in Phoenix, Ariz. and Knoxville, Tenn. The company built products, like the Rally Fighter prerunner sports car, in its microfactories. At least one proposed microfactory is being designed to make many of its own parts, i.e., a partially self-replicating machine.

A microfactory either refers to a capital-light facility used for the local assembly of a complex product or system or a small (normally automated) factory for producing small quantities of products. The term was proposed by the Mechanical Engineer Laboratory (MEL) of Japan in 1990 and has recently been used to describe the approach of manufacturers like Local Motors and Arrival. A microfactory can also refer to a factory designed for flexible small batch production that can produce a wide variety of products as opposed to a single monolithic mass production type approach. Typically the manufacturing processes of microfactories take advantage of digital fabrication technology such as 3D printing and CNC machines in order to accomplish this. For example, Local Motors had microfactories in Phoenix, Ariz. and Knoxville, Tenn. The company built products, like the Rally Fighter prerunner sports car, in its microfactories. At least one proposed microfactory is being designed to make many of its own parts, i.e., a partially self-replicating machine. ==See also== Automation Numerical control 3D printing Digital modeling and fabrication Flexible manufacturing system Distributed manufacturing Agile manufacturing ==References== ==External links== Japanese microfactory project Microfactory picture MicroManufacturing Conference

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