Modular manufacturing has been gaining traction in various industries, and it's not hard to see why. With its ability to improve efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, it's no wonder that more and more companies are turning to this approach. As an expert in the field, I have seen firsthand how modular manufacturing has revolutionized the way we produce goods. In this article, I will delve into the concept of modular manufacturing and provide an example of how it's being used in the nuclear industry. One of the most notable examples of modular manufacturing is in the nuclear industry, specifically with small modular reactors (SMRs).
These reactors are built using prefabricated components that are then assembled on-site, resulting in a much faster construction process compared to traditional on-site manufacturing. However, understanding the technology is only one part of the equation. It's also crucial to understand how the product structure can enable business strategies across all functions. An excellent example of this is how lean production can be improved by implementing a modular product architecture. By doing so, companies can achieve synergies between lean production and modular product architectures.
This trend towards modular manufacturing is influenced by several key factors, including cost of goods sold (COGS) and capacity utilization. This is especially important when designing a modular system, as the goal is to create a product that is flexible enough to meet customer needs while also having a long life cycle. In modular manufacturing, different modules can be produced simultaneously and even in different locations before being joined together for final assembly. The automotive industry, for example, uses fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) in the modular construction of vehicle parts such as bumpers, panels, and chassis components. In this article, we will explore the application of FRP in modular design and analyze its advantages and considerations.
We will also discuss the potential challenges associated with modular design in manufacturing and provide strategies to mitigate these limitations. A modular system is essentially a collection of basic components that can be configured in various ways to meet the different needs of customers. With the ever-changing landscape of the pharmaceutical industry, modular manufacturing is becoming an increasingly important trend that exhibitors and attendees should consider at this year's Pharma EXPO (McCormick Place, Chicago; November). Modular buildings, both temporary and permanent, can be manufactured as structural units that form the building's structure once assembled on-site. This approach has become increasingly popular in several manufacturing sectors, including automotive, electronics, construction, and aerospace. Modularization can be used to improve economies of scale while still maintaining product configurability.
The main objective of modularization is to create a flexible system that allows for the creation of different configurations while reducing the number of unique basic components (module variants) needed to do so. Factors such as the speed of commercialization, multi-product campaigns that require different production programs, and the need for smaller batches of pharmaceutical products for new innovative personalized therapies or rare diseases have driven the growing need for flexibility and interest in modular manufacturing. A well-designed modular system will not only improve efficiency but also provide flexibility for a wide range of products and agility for future changes, ensuring that the architecture can last for a long time.
