Manufacturing Changeability and Manufacturing as a Service

As markets and supply chains become more volatile, rapid response to changing demands is crucial. Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) enables quick access to manufacturing assets, while changeable manufacturing designs adaptable systems. This paper investigates how 1) manufacturing as a service may support changeability, and 2) how changeability may support manufacturing as a service. To do so, a representative literature review on the bidirectional support of changeability and manufacturing as a service is conducted. Consequently, the means changeability provides to enable and/or stimulate manufacturing as a service are studied. Additionally, how manufacturing as a service can support changeability in different levels of a production system is discussed. Findings show MaaS fosters manufacturing flexibility, while changeability strengthens MaaS in three areas: strategy (market adaptability), technology (flexible systems), and organization (operational agility). Together, they enhance manufacturing resilience and responsiveness.