Asymmetry in manufacturing – a systematic literature review

Symmetry is a fundamental principle in engineering design, offering advantages in modeling, simplifying manufacturing processes, and improving system performance. In contrast, asymmetry plays a multifaceted role. While it can introduce operational challenges and reduce system reliability, it also offers potential benefits to enhance functionality and reduce manufacturing errors. This paper presents a systematic literature review to map the underreported role of asymmetry in manufacturing. Starting from an initial set of 217 sources, 51 key studies on product design and manufacturing were selected to highlight current trends, challenges, opportunities, and future directions in the field. The review identified two main classes of asymmetry: unintended asymmetry within symmetrical designs, and intentional asymmetry for asymmetrical designs. In symmetrical designs, components such as machinery and sensors are intended to achieve balance in form and function. However, factors such as operational conditions, manufacturing variability, and installation errors can compromise symmetry, reducing the accuracy of predictive models under real-world conditions, highlighting the need to address asymmetry. Conversely, asymmetrical design intentionally incorporates asymmetrical features to optimize specific functions, thereby enhancing the performance of machines, products, and systems.