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Investigation into re-shoring UK manufacturing using additive manufacturing as a method to enable manufacturing postponement
This thesis describes case study research investigation into re-shoring UK manufacturing using Additive Manufacturing as a method to enable manufacturing Postponement. After identifying the gap in the knowledge by conducting a literature review, the author aims to understand the primary motivation b...
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Format: | Dissertation |
Language: | English |
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Online Access: | Request full text |
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Summary: | This thesis describes case study research investigation into re-shoring UK manufacturing
using Additive Manufacturing as a method to enable manufacturing Postponement. After
identifying the gap in the knowledge by conducting a literature review, the author aims to
understand the primary motivation behind the re-shoring phenomenon in the UK. The
initial investigation is done by targeting the UK based organisations that have been
involved in supporting the re-shoring phenomenon. As a result, lack of responsiveness was
found to be the key factor behind re-shoring in the UK. This is then followed by an
investigation considering this issue from countries to which manufacturing has been
offshored in the past, in particular, India. The research studies the factors that influence
this decision from Indian industries perspectives and investigates what the key issues are
behind the lack of responsiveness in India. This is whilst India is one of the most attractive
offshoring destinations among the other low-cost countries. This introduces the next
objective of this research which is to identify a strategy that could help the industries to
address such issues. Consequently the concept of Postponement was selected as a strategy
and Additive Manufacturing (AM) was identified as a manufacturing method that could
enable Postponement. Such a combination can enable companies to shorten their lead-time
and be more responsive to their domestic customers. This study also develops a clear
picture of re-shoring in the UK and bridges this phenomenon to the new generation of
technologies and emerging mega trends. It particularly focuses on AM technologies as an
enabling manufacturing method the Industry 4.0. The results obtained from the survey
study indicate that there is a positive view towards applicability of AM technologies within
the supply chain of the re-shoring companies. The final section of this thesis aims to
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provide a series of case studies where AM technologies are used to further enable
companies to reduce their lead time and achieve more customisation. It shows that the
companies can re-shore their production activities back to the home country by using AM
technologies and engage in a local supply chain. Therefore this study adds insight into
manufacturing challenges related to re-shoring and provides a potential solution for the
companies that are involved in the production of high value added production. The results
from this section indicate that the re-sho |
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