Digital manufacturing integrates AI, IoT, robotics, and 3D printing to create efficient, flexible, and agile manufacturing systems. As a result, it experiences a shorter time-to-market and enhanced customization capabilities.
The digital manufacturing market, valued at US$ 446.92 Bn in 2023, is poised for significant growth of 17.36%. It is estimated to reach a value of US$ 1.37 Tn by 2030.
- The expansion of digital manufacturing is attributable to the productivity-enhancing and market-expanding benefits of remote monitoring and data collection.
- Robotics, 5G, smart wearables, remote monitoring, BIM software, and RFID monitoring solutions are boosting the market.
- Optimizing resource use reduces production costs, and the rapid growth of Product Life-Cycle Management (PLM) is expected to fuel the market.
Key Digital Manufacturing Market Drivers
- With technologies such as digital twins, Industrial IoT, data analytics, and autonomous guided vehicles, Process Automation is a major driver.
- Improving Production Quality through Machine Vision, 3D printing, and robotics enhances product quality.
- Digital Manufacturing improves Workplace Safety with smart sensors, biometric access, and smart wearables, a key growth driver.
- A Connected Supply Chain, which includes technologies such as blockchain, real-time inventory, and paperless processes, is also a market driver.
Digital Manufacturing Market Segmentation Analysis
We can segment the market by components, revenue source, user industry, and geography.
A. Component
Software: They facilitate manufacturing processes’ design, simulation, and optimization.
CAD and CAM software allows manufacturers to develop 3D models, simulate production scenarios, and generate tool paths for machining operations.
Hardware: Integral to digital manufacturing are robotics, sensors, and additive manufacturing machines.
Industrial robots automate tasks while sensors collect real-time data for monitoring and optimizing processes. 3D printers enable rapid prototyping and manufacturing on demand.
Services: Digital manufacturing services include solution providers’ consulting, implementation, and maintenance support to implement digital manufacturing solutions and optimize operations.
B. Technology
Computer-aided design (CAD): CAD enables manufacturers to create accurate 3D product models and simulate their performance in virtual environments.
It streamlines the design process, reduces errors, and accelerates the development of new products.
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM): CAM software transforms CAD models into machine instructions for automated production processes.
It optimizes tool paths, reduces material waste, and increases the precision and productivity of machining.
Industrial robotics: They are utilized for assembly, welding, material handling, and quality inspection, enhance process efficiency, decrease labor costs, and improve safety.
3D printing: 3D printing (additive manufacturing) enables the creation of complex 3D objects by depositing material layers.
It allows for design flexibility, reduces material waste, and enables the production of customized parts on demand.
AI/ML and IoT: They enable machines to analyze and learn from data, make intelligent decisions, and optimize manufacturing processes. They facilitate preventative maintenance, quality management, and demand forecasting.
IoT connects devices, sensors, and machines to collect and share real-time data to monitor machines, assets, and digital manufacturing processes for efficiency and predictive maintenance.
C. Industry
Automotive: Digital manufacturing increases production efficiency, optimizes supply chains, and enables mass customization while enhancing vehicle design, production planning, and quality control.
Aerospace and defense: The industry streamlines complex manufacturing processes, reduces lead times, and improves product quality. It supports additive manufacturing for critical parts and enables the production of lightweight components.
Electronics: Digital manufacturing efficiently produces consumer electronics, semiconductors, and electronic components. It enables the miniaturization of devices, decreases production costs, and accelerates time-to-market.
Healthcare: Digital manufacturing enables the production of customized medical devices, prosthetics, and implants, improving patient care, accelerating innovation, and making medical products accessible.
Consumer goods: Digital manufacturing can create personalized products, optimize packaging design, and enhance supply chain management, quickening product launches and lowering inventory costs.
Others: Also adopting digital manufacturing are the F&B, chemical, textile, and energy industries, which benefit from production efficiency, quality control, and sustainability.
D. Region
North America: A significant manufacturing presence, technological advances, and government initiatives promoting advanced manufacturing have made North America a prominent digital manufacturing market.
Europe: Germany, France, and the UK have embraced digital manufacturing, and the region prioritizes Industry 4.0 concepts to increase manufacturing competitiveness.
Asia Pacific: With investments in automation and digitization, manufacturing powerhouses like China, Japan, and South Korea are fueling the region’s expansion of digital manufacturing.
Latin America: Digital manufacturing is rising, particularly in Brazil and Mexico. Its manufacturing industry embraces digital technology to remain competitive.
Middle East and Africa: This region is adopting digital manufacturing to diversify economies and reduce oil reliance, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Opportunity and Competition Landscape
Digital manufacturing facilitates collaboration throughout the production process and takes a holistic view of the product and the design process; therefore, it is utilized in various industries.
For their next automotive project, designers at automotive OEMs can design the entire manufacturing process (tooling, machining, assembly sequence, and factory layout). Manufacturing engineers can inform designers of their limitations.
Suppliers can use digitally fabricated systems to simulate an entire production line in 3D and evaluate various production variations and concepts as part of the quoting process.
Aerospace, spare parts production, and other industries can integrate into automated additive manufacturing (3D printing), manufacturing laminated objects, and CNC cutting and milling.
Airbus partnered with L&T to provide Advanced Engineering Capabilities and Digital Manufacturing Services and support Airbus’ Numerical Control Programming (NCP) Cluster, which includes composite production, trimming, and cutting.
Industry 4.0, characterized by integrating digital technologies throughout the manufacturing value chain, presents opportunities for digital manufacturing.
Smart factories with sophisticated automation, connectivity, and data analytics capacities are becoming a reality.
Samsung invested in smart manufacturing at its second-largest cell phone plant in Noida, India, to make production more competitive and optimize product manufacturing.
Digital manufacturing can be integrated with supply chain management systems to create visibility and transparency, enabling real-time demand forecasting, optimized inventory management, and efficient order fulfillment.
Looking into the Future
Increasing industrialization, government initiatives, and investment in cutting-edge technologies provide manufacturers with opportunities to adopt digital manufacturing solutions.
- Digital manufacturing has growth potential in emerging markets like India, Brazil, and Southeast Asian countries.
- Software providers, hardware manufacturers, and service providers are key players and will vie for market share in the competitive digital manufacturing market.
- Key players must rely on partnerships, collaborations, acquisitions, and new and innovative products to gain a competitive edge.
Draup conducted an analysis of the elements of the digital manufacturing market. The report comprises key segments, industries, key players, and focus areas for service providers and OEMs.
