Distributed Manufacturing: A High-Level Node-Based Concept for Open Source Hardware Production

Distributed manufacturing is presented as a means to enable sustainable production and collaboration. Rather than rely on centralised production, distributed manufacturing promises to improve the flexibility and resilience to meet urgent production demands. New frameworks of production, based on manufacturing models with distributed networks, may provide functional examples to industrial practice. This paper discusses efforts in distributed production in the context of Free/Open source hardware and devises a conceptual framework for future pilots at which open source machines, such as a desktop 3D printer, may be manufactured in a network of open/fab lab nodes

Connecting the dots: understanding professional development needs of Istanbul’s makers for circular economy

With the dissemination and increased accessibility of makerspaces (e.g. fab labs, creative hubs, learning platforms), cities now present an opportunity for loosely managed, distributed fabrication opportunities to recapture embedded value in products and resources and re-distribute them for the benefit of the city. Istanbul Metropolitan City, with its rather large population and land, as well as 24 active makerspaces focusing on different industries and fabrication opportunities (e.g. education, entrepreneurship, sustainability), presents potential for initiating a robust network of makers (e.g. designers, engineers, craftsmen, investors, students, entrepreneurs) to explore and exploit novel ways of value recapture and to transition towards a local, Circular Economy. However, these stakeholders initially require an understanding of potential opportunities and barriers for collaboration, as well as equip themselves with skills and knowledge beyond the act of making (including alternative ways to conduct business, value recapture, Circular Design, collaboration, etc.) in order to sustain their operations from an economic perspective. This paper presents the initial results of (1) a survey revealing Istanbul’s maker communities’ goals, priorities, target groups, and skills related to the Circular Economy, and (2) their collaborative attempt of a future, circular economy vision for Istanbul developed as part of a generative workshop. The maker community representatives explored existing infrastructure, resources and stakeholders of Istanbul to connect the dots amongst them and reveal untapped, concealed local opportunities for collaboration and co-creation. This paper presents the analysis of these studies to reveal the professional development needs of these maker communities for transitioning towards a local, circular economy. As a result, the authors propose strategies for training, capacity building and skills development both relevant to the local context of Istanbul and in line with the global concerns around sustainability and the Circular Economy

Rentabilidade dos FabLab em Portugal

Nos últimos anos, novas formas de abordagem ao processo de fabrico têm ganho importância. A vontade de maior personalização dos bens e de criação de peças diferenciadas, aliada à urgência de inovar tanto por parte das empresas como dos consumidores deu origem a um novo conceito: O FabLab. A abreviatura FabLab resulta de “Fabrication Laboratory”, sendo o seu objetivo principal o método “do it yourself”. Nesta pesquisa, pretende-se estudar a rentabilidade dos FabLabs a nível nacional, comparando a sua gestão, utilização e relevância consoante a sua base de investimento privada ou pública. A metodologia utilizada consistiu na realização de um inquérito por questionário aos responsáveis dos centros pertencentes à rede de FabLabs, em Portugal. A presente pesquisa permitiu concluir que existem diferenças acentuadas entre estes laboratórios. Nos centros de investimento privado encontram-se empresas com maior estrutura e maior volume de negócios. Em contraste, as empresas que são financiadas, maioritariamente, por investimento público apresentam menor procura, apesar de terem sido as pioneiras deste tipo de laboratórios em Portugal. A causa destas diferenças aponta para o principal objetivo de cada centro. Os FabLab de investimento privado apresentam um maior foco e enquadramento com as organizações que as financiam. Estas empresas privadas são também a origem dos fundos utilizados para criar e manter estes centros. Nos FabLabs baseados em investimento público é percetível a preocupação com a missão de disponibilizar ferramentas à comunidade e desta forma ajudar a educar a população. Demonstram um papel diferente mas de elevada importância para a rede de FabLabs em Portugal. Este estudo, permitiu ainda verificar que, ao nível da rentabilidade, estas organizações não são ainda auto suficientes e muito dificilmente o serão.New ways of approaching the manufacturing process have gained importance lately. The desire for greater customization of goods and the creation of differentiated pieces, combined with the urgency to innovate by both companies and consumers. This gave rise to a new concept: FabLab. The abbreviation FabLab results from “Fabrication Laboratory”. Its main objective is the "do it yourself" method. This research aims to study the profitability of FabLabs in Portugal, comparing their management, use and relevance taking into consideration whether the investment is private or public. The methodology used was to conduct a questionnaire of FabLabs managers in Portugal. The study concluded that there are big differences between FabLabs, and those that received private investment are companies with larger structure, higher utilization and higher turnover. On the other hand, companies that are mostly financed by public investment have lower demand. This last type first appeared in Portugal. The cause of these differences is the purpose of each center. Private investment FabLabs have a greater focus on organizations that finance them. These private companies are also the source of funds used to set up and maintain these centers. In public investment-based FabLabs, there is a major concern about the mission of providing tools to the community. This helps to educate the population. They demonstrate a different but highly important role for FabLabs in Portugal. This study showed that, in terms of profitability, these organizations are not self-sufficient and very unlikely to be. This requires a change in people's mindsets, a greater involvement between organizations and the promotion of curiosity to encourage the use of these centers to generate innovation and development

Proceedings of the Conference on Production Systems and Logistics: CPSL 2022

[no abstract available

Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Production Systems and Logistics (CPSL 2021)

Proceedings of the CPSL 202