Microproduction

Characteristics

General properties of Distributed Microproduction:

• Flexibility

It is able to create diverse configurations of actors and connections in the realization of processes to ‘modulate’ production: producing the same product in a different way, producing different types of product, different versions of similar products, or of the same product (variants or multiples).

• Scalability/Adaptability:

It is able to have production processes vary (unique items, small series or ‘multiplied’ products, batches as the sum of small serial products). At the same time it is able to expand or shrink in size (number of nodes) and geographical extent (of the network). Moreover, the processes or practices (technological, organizational, social) that originate a specific productive context can be replicated and adapted for transfer to other contexts.

• Transparency:

Productive processes and performances are trackable, visible, comprehensible, and shareable. Moreover, the system enables the constant development of applications for the info-visualization and monitoring/control of resources (‘maker maps’) in relation to the increasing incorporation of control devices1 and technologies in products and means of production.

• Interoperability:

It enables a diversified set of production competences and skills to coexist and cooperate. It promotes forms of active cooperation between people and traditional and automated production systems (human integration and friendliness, Kühnle 2010)." (http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/content/original/Book%20covers/Local%20PDFs/93%20SF%20Bianchini,%20and%20Maffei%20Distributed%20economies%20paper%202013.pdf)

More Information

• Report: Microproduction Everywhere