Manufacturing — Its Evolution and Future

The paper highlights events of manufacturing’s evolution and metamorphosis over a period of 60 years (as noted by the first author) and offers some observations on key developments and activities. It includes, principally, the reflections of professional activities of the first author and discussions of how manufacturing is evolving to accommodate the current and expected trends in manufacturing technology. Some specific examples relative to developments in the design-to-manufacturing cycle are added, for example the “digital factory.” Finally, a perspective of what may now lie ahead, specially relative to enterprise issues and human system interactions, is offered.