2022-03-24-罗兰贝格-Gaining_competitiveness_with_Next_Generation_Manufacturing_28页_2mb

Summary of Next Generation Manufacturing Report

Overview

The report "Next Generation Manufacturing" examines six megatrends—Sustainability, Digitalization, Industry Disruption, Regionalization, Populism, and Individualization—that have reached a tipping point. These trends offer a unique opportunity for manufacturing companies to transform their operations, shifting from traditional cost-centric focus to a broader view that includes environmental impact, technological innovation, and supply chain resilience.

Challenges and Pressures

• Manufacturing companies face escalating pressure to cut costs, maintain quality, and defend margins, often putting them at a disadvantage.
• Key challenges include global supply chain disruptions, rising ESG demands, political risks, and the need to adapt to individualized consumer preferences.
• Many executives desire to outsource manufacturing altogether (e.g., 51% of surveyed executives), but the report argues this is a miscalculation, advocating for smarter reinvention.

Megatrends and Opportunities

1. Sustainability: Driven by ESG mandates, consumer demand, and regulatory pressures, this trend is reshaping competitiveness by focusing on carbon neutrality and eco-design.
2. Digitalization: Leverages AI, IoT, and Industry 4.0 to enhance efficiency, transparency, and flexibility in production and supply chains.
3. Industry Disruption: Technological advances, like electric vehicles reducing complexity, create opportunities for innovation and new value propositions.
4. Regionalization: Responds to geopolitical risks and consumer proximity, prompting companies to shift toward local or near-shore production.
5. Populism: Influences trade policies and supply chain security, requiring strategic adaptation to volatile political environments.
6. Individualization: Driven by customization demands, this trend challenges traditional economies of scale, necessitating flexible manufacturing technologies.

Shift in Competitiveness Criteria

• Competitiveness now encompasses sustainability metrics, ESG factors, supply chain agility, digital capabilities, and access to critical resources, moving beyond labor and material costs.

Strategies for becoming a Next Generation Manufacturer

The report introduces eight levers and 70 measures:

1. Embed Sustainability: Integrate ESG goals and use tools like carbon offsetting and renewable energy.
2. Rethink Manufacturing Footprint: Shift toward regionalized, green production and optimize supply chains.
3. Establish Partnerships: Collaborate with technology providers, clusters, and suppliers for shared innovation and risk reduction.
4. Leverage Digital Technologies: Implement Industry 4.0 solutions for automation, predictive maintenance, and supply chain visibility.
5. Develop New Business Models: Explore manufacturing-as-a-service, pay-per-use models, and circular economy designs.
6. Boost Efficiency: Apply Lean Six Sigma, automation, and operational excellence to reduce costs.
7. Configure Production: Address flexibility through modular designs and mini-plants aligned with green energy advancements.
8. Partnerships and Rethink Networks: Strengthen supplier collaborations and diversify to mitigate risks.

Conclusion

The megatrends present an opportunity to convert manufacturing from a liability into a value generator. By embracing these changes, companies can gain competitive edges in sustainability, technology, and regional relevance. Governments and policymakers can support this by promoting ESG and digital infrastructure. The report emphasizes that proactive adaptation is crucial; failure to evolve may lead to obsolescence, while innovators can thrive in this transformative era.