Cloud manufacturing ecosystem analysis and design

The manufacturing industry is facing the impact of a dynamic market and intensive competition. Many companies are looking for new approach to improve their business activities in collaborative ecosystem with other stakeholders. Cloud computing enables sharing resources capabilities between different stakeholders support physical production. purpose this research explore approaches moving towards cloud present possible implications practice. To fulfil objectives, multiple-case study was conducted within sheet metal companies. Business technology related requirements cloud-based portals were collected through interviews industrial practitioners from perspective. Based on analysis prototype model CloudEcosystem presented demonstrate essential features portals. This found that there three portal types ecosystems depending value chain configuration. Close real-time information provided by platforms can create where machine owners, product designers customers may collaborate compete simultaneously. designed provide practical tool technical solution help manufacturers think about ecosystems.