Manufacturing Paradigm III—From Conception to the Academic Frontier

The theory of the “three paradigms of manufacturing development” is derived from a systematic analysis of the evolution of manufacturing precision and controllable feature size. It posits that Manufacturing Paradigm III is grounded in quantum theory as its new theoretical foundation, with atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing as its core enabling technology. Having evolved from early-stage academic discussions into a global research agenda, this theory is increasingly recognized by scholars for its value in explaining the developmental logic of manufacturing science and in reshaping the field’s theoretical foundations. This emerging paradigm integrates atomistic science, advanced manufacturing processes, atomic-scale metrology, and deterministic process control to provide a scientific framework for future manufacturing.