Editor’s Note: Below my conclusion on my thoughts on the Democratization of Manufacturing, you will have the pleasure of reading the thoughts of 30 year Manufacturing veteran, David DeWitt, who has now started social network, ManufacturingStories.com

Concluding Thoughts on The Democratization of Manufacturing, The Idea Driving the Maker Movement in Manufacturing

A few weeks ago I wrote a piece around a growing trend, the Democratization of Manufacturing and the Role of Its Citizens. I expanded on this thought, where many players are involved in manufacturing efficiency and output, as opposed to just one single source supply chain or just a few large manufacturing companies. Instead, the idea of the democratization of manufacturing is all about making manufacturing accessible to all and from many sources. In a consumer driven economy, where no longer does the producer have the power (Read “The New Rules of Retail” to see those changes over time from producer driven economies to consumer driven economies), this is a natural evolution.

Essentially, the Democratization of Manufacturing is about choice. In the end, my thoughts conclude on the democratization of manufacturing by simply saying what we are seeing is that when all are able to contribute to an industry, whether it be niche, or perhaps off beat, the end result is a great thing because it will mean more innovation (and innovation in manufacturing is exactly what we need to sustain). We have seen this same scenario play out in the technology world, where small start ups have already disrupted tech giants such as Poloraid and Kodak (think Instagram) and IBM (think Dell or even Google).

As with all of our posts, we post them to social media channels, such as relevant LinkedIn groups. I posted the Democratization of Manufacturing blog post into the IndustyWeek group, and was delighted and welcomed by a comment from David DeWitt. That comment is below for you to read (it may make sense to read the post he commented on first), as well as an excellent white paper titled, “A Primer on the Maker Movement”.

The Maker Movement Comment in Response to the Democratization of Manufacturing

Adam, you are RIGHT ON with this article. Just look at what Elon Musk did this week with Tesla’s patents. Millennial’s are much more into working collaboratively and openly. Much of this has to do with how they have been brought up in a fully connected social media world. The projects they are interested in most relate to sustainability, community and improving the lives of others. Things like localizing farming, food production and manufacturing rate higher than making a lot of money. However, this is NOT an anti free markets movement even though it may sound that way. Freedom and openness are the foundation of this new generations ideals.



For me the key element of this democratization is the Maker Movement. Maker Clubs, Maker Spaces and Maker Faires are popping up all over the country. I believe that industry and industry organizations should embrace and support this movement at every juncture as fast as possible. Used and obsolete equipment can be resurrected by Makers. Industrial employees of every discipline running workshops at MakerSpaces can provide many of the beneficial aspects of apprenticeships which will go a long way to solving our rapidly growing skills shortage. This week the White House is going to host it first every MakerFaire and the President will be visiting a MakerSpace in PA. Finally the Maker Movement will have a profound impact on education. All Maker activities are STEM, STEAM and Common Core compliant and build on the concept of Project Based Learning.

White House Touts “Maker Movement” with Maker Programs

Another indicator of the maker movement is the White House’s announcement that President Obama will host a Maker Faire. President Obama will meet with students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens who are using new tools and techniques to launch businesses, learn vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and lead a grassroots

renaissance in American manufacturing. The Maker Movement is truly something to keep an eye out for. You can view the White House’s press release in full by clicking here.

Additionally, if you want to check out an industry leader in the Maker Movement, look no further than Maker’s Row out of New York but now supporting the Maker Movement in all 50 states.

Download the “A Primer on the Maker Movement” White Paper

You can download the “A Primer on the Maker Movement” by visiting here.

You should also make sure you check out and support all of what ManufacturingStories.com is doing, and join us on Social Media.

Our website and social media is dedicated to promoting manufacturing and STEM education. We have a number of Pinterest Boards relating directly to the Maker Movement filled with hundreds of resources, literature and ideas.

Website – http://manufacturingstories.com/

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/mfgstories/

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/mfgstories

What are your thoughts on the Maker Movement? Let us know in the comments section below!