Mass Customization Via Rapid Manufacturing

Rapid prototyping has become the primary means by which assembly engineers obtain prototype parts needed for systems design. Some predict that rapid prototyping will soon evolve into rapid manufacturing. Rather than having factories full of mass production equipment, factories will consist of hundreds of inexpensive layer-based fabrication machines that can economically produce custom parts. Mass customization using layer-based fabrication processes will have a profound impact on industrial engineers. This paper discusses the technological hurdles to be overcome before mass customization via layer-based manufacturing becomes a reality, and it explores ways in which mass customization will affect the traditional industrial engineer.