Smart cloud manufacturing platform for resource efficiency improvement of additive manufacturing services

Abstract Recent advancements in Industry 4.0 key enabling technologies allow for the dynamic sharing of additive manufacturing services in a cloud manufacturing context, with great potential on resource efficiency improvement at network level. This paper proposes the conceptualization and development of a modular-structured cloud platform to match users' instances generating feasible solutions according to various manufacturing scenarios. The proposed cloud manufacturing platform includes a service modelling and dynamic matching module, an intelligent resource distribution optimization module and a decision-making support module to assist users in characterizing the generated solutions. A simulated case study is reported to exemplify technical and economic advantages for industrial resource efficiency improvement