Past, Present, and Future Tendencies in Digital Manufacturing Applications

Abstract

There is a growing interplay between the physical (land, water, air, and life), social (housing, buildings, 
transportation, and infrastructure), and virtual (computing power, the internet, big data, and technology), all of 
which are influencing the development of economies and society. Ingenious ways of life are gaining hold. It's 
more desirable to mass-customize items and services than to mass-produce them. Companies strive to meet the 
needs of a single consumer at a price that is equivalent to that of mass manufacturing, and to do it in the shortest 
amount of time feasible. To achieve this goal, the industrial sector must shift away from manual processes and 
toward those made possible by information and communication technologies. The term "digital manufacturing" 
refers to a broader concept of manufacturing innovation in which digital and material advancements allow the 
manufacturer to conceive products in the desired style and quantity in time scales shorter than conventional 
methods, all while efficiently managing the entire product lifecycle. The goal of comprehensive digital product 
definition is to define production processes and manage information related to those operations. It involves taking 
a broad look at both the product and the process, as well as designing products with an eye for limitations and 
strengths in the manufacturing process. This article discusses the evolution of traditional manufacturing into smart 
manufacturing, the benefits of becoming digital, the many uses digital manufacturing now has, and its potential 
uses in the future.