Distributed and on-demand additive manufacturing (AM) is reshaping global production models by enabling localized manufacturing, reducing supply-chain dependencies, and introducing the concept of “digital inventory.” Instead of storing physical spare parts, companies can store certified digital files and produce components only when and where they are needed.

This workshop explores the technological, logistical, and regulatory foundations required to implement decentralized AM networks. The sub-workshop covers secure data transmission, digital part certification, cloud-based production management, standardized qualification protocols, and integration with existing supply chains.

Key topics include digital thread implementation, cybersecurity for design files, distributed quality assurance, remote machine monitoring, and the economics of local versus centralized production. Presentations will address how AM can enhance supply-chain resilience, reduce lead times, minimize warehousing costs, and lower carbon emissions associated with transportation.

Academic speakers will present research on distributed manufacturing systems, digital twins, and secure design frameworks, while industry leaders will share real-world case studies in aerospace, defense, energy, healthcare, and spare-parts logistics.

The workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how additive manufacturing enables flexible, resilient, and sustainable production ecosystems through digitalization and localized fabrication.

Extended Key Takeaways & Outputs

• Comparative assessment of centralized vs. distributed AM production models

• Identification of bottlenecks in certification, cybersecurity, and digital standardisation

• Strategies for implementing digital inventory and secure file management

• R&D priorities for resilient and decentralized AM networks

• Roadmap for scaling on-demand manufacturing across industrial sectors