Microfactory

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A microfactory either refers to a capital light facility used for the local assembly of a complex product or system[1] or a small dimension factory able to produce small dimension products. The term was proposed by the Mechanical Engineer Laboratory (MEL) of Japan in 1990 and has recently been utilized to describe the approach of manufacturers like Arrival.[2][1] The microfactory's main advantages are to save a great amount of resources like space, energy, materials, time, and initial upfront capital costs.[3]

Due to their reduced dimensions, microfactories should be highly automated. They might contain automatic machine tools, assembly systems, quality inspection systems, material feed systems, waste elimination systems, a system to evaluate tool deterioration and a system to replace tools.[4]

At least one proposed microfactory is being designed to make many of its own parts, i.e., is a partially self-replicating machine.[5]

A microfactory can also refer to a factory designed to produce 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 has microfactories in Phoenix, Ariz. and Knoxville, Tenn.[6] The company builds its signature products, like the Rally Fighter prerunner sports car right in its microfactories.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Arrival Investor Presentation".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Makoto Tanaka, Development of desktop machining microfactory. Riken Review N. 34 Focused on Advances on Micro-mechanical Fabrication Techniques, April, 2001. Available in the WEB at "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Yuichi Okazaki, Nozomu Mishima, and Kiwamu Ashida. Microfactory - concept, history, and developments. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, pages 837–844, 2004. Available in the WEB at http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=JMSEFK000126000004000837000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
  4. ^ Ernst Kussul et al. Development of micromachine tool prototypes for microfactories, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, V. 12. N. 6. November 2002. pp.795-812. Available in the WEB at http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0960-1317/12/6/311
  5. ^ Koch, Michael D. "Utilizing emergent web-based software tools as an effective method for increasing collaboration and knowledge sharing in collocated student design teams". 2010. p. 39: Cubespawn.
  6. ^ "Microfactories - Local Motors". Retrieved 2016-07-06.

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