Mass Customization

Mass Customization examines the business opportunities, competitive considerations, and operational challenges manufacturers in various industries must weigh before committing to the significant investment in machinery and software needed to go to mass customization. For manufacturers who decide that it's time to take the plunge, the author describes the proven methods and latest technologies for making mass customization work seamlessly and profitably on the factory floor.§§Mass customization - the use of automated manufacturing systems that combine the affordability of the low unit-costs of mass production with the flexibility of individual customization to fabricate complex built-to-order products on demand and at profit - has been touted as the next big thing for more than a quarter of a century. Until recently, however, mass customization made only modest inroads in a few industries, notably electronics. Now, the convergence of new and emerging information and communication technology (ICT) technologies, factory-floor interface devices, and manufacturing technologies with traditional computer numerical control (CNC) technologies means that mass customization's moment has arrived for breaking out into a wide range of industries.§Hans Kull is a manufacturer and mathematician who applies his expertise in combinatorial optimization, programming, and engineering to devising end-to-end automated solutions for mass customization systems, including order processing, production planning, layout, bespoke parts supply, machinery integration, and machinery execution. He shares with his readers practical lessons for making mass customization succeed in the smart factory, case studies from various industries, and an insider's vision of the business implications of mass customization's coming of age.§