Distributed Manufacturing
An API for the European digital manufacturing network
The problem we are trying to solve
The current crisis showed how important it is to have a strong and resilient manufacturing ecosystem that can provide for the production of essential tools, like protective gears, for those involved on the front line. Modern digital manufacturing techniques like 3D printing and laser cutting allow customized solutions that can be adapted to different scenarios. The production of masks for hospitals by many volunteers via simple FDM 3D printers and laser cutters have been a virtuous example during these days. Unfortunately at the moment the landscape of the suppliers is scattered, often there is a low level of automation involved in the ordering process and the time between the first inquiry for the order and the final delivery can be very variable and it depends on the single suppliers. All of this introduces unnecessary frictions that can slow down the production of essential equipment in critical moments.
The solution we bring to the table
The solution that we propose is called Distributed Manufacturing (DM). Creating a network of the existing digital manufacturing suppliers and link them to a single platform. This network will then become accessible via an API for placing orders with auto pricing capabilities. Once an order is placed, an auction will take place between the suppliers on who can deliver it first. If required, the same orders could be split between many suppliers of the network. To simplify the process for the customers, DM would not act as a marketplace of different suppliers but as a single entity, while behind the scenes the order will be smartly dispatched. As for the pricing, we will negotiate with the individual suppliers how much to pay them for machine time usage and material. For example, by interviews we conducted we know that, for laser cutting, the machine time usage cost can vary between 2 Pounds per minute in the UK and 2 Złoty per minute in Poland.
What you have done during the weekend
The hackathon helped us refine our idea and gain valuable insights on the business side of the solution. We have developed a first iteration of the API specification (https://app.swaggerhub.com/apis-docs/Distributed-Manufacturing/Distributed-Manufacturing/1.0.0) as well as a skeleton of the back end that allows to simply test the API end points. The back end includes our algorithm for auto pricing laser cutting orders, based on the manufacturing time prediction.
The solution’s impact to the crisis
The solution that we propose aims to create a network of suppliers. The bigger the network the strongest its potential. During a moment of crisis this resilient network could be accessed to manufacture essential components. We could imaging for example a service where hospitals can request protective gear at need. This service, via the Distributed Manufacturing API, would access the network of suppliers and get the orders delivered in the most efficient way possible. The fact that we want to use existing suppliers for our network could also help in term of economic recovery: Distributed Manufacturing would not be a competitor but a new stable source of orders for existing businesses, big and small.
The necessities in order to continue the project
The biggest challenge will be developing the network of suppliers. This will require legal as well as business development resources. From a technical point of view, we are more ahead, as the back end skeleton is set and also the main algorithm for auto pricing laser and CNC order is written We would need to add 3D printing features and bring the architecture to a production-ready state. We estimate that with a small team of 4-5 people we could reach a go-to-market moment within 6 months of work.
The value of your solution after the crisis
The API first approach allows great flexibility and an ease development of third party solutions. Distributed Manufacturing is "manufacturing as a service". We can imagine that many new and specialized businesses could be built on top of it: services for designers, architects, custom forniture, components for a variety of industries, prototyping.
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