Abstract
The shift from centralised to redistributed manufacturing (RDM) enables lower volume production closer to the site of use. The potential benefits of RDM are highlighted in the literature, but in this emerging field, understanding of how its adoption changes relationships within an ecosystem is limited. We provide a novel case study of an emerging portable, digitised micro-factory technology from healthcare that localises manufacture of therapeutics on the body of the patient. Taking a manufacturing ecosystems perspective, the paper contributes empirical evidence showing how the introduction of the micro-factory causes a change in the context of manufacture at the micro level and a change in inter-organisational and institutional relationships at the meso level. Our research shows how inanimate agents, such as digital micro-factories, can be actors within an ecosystem. We position the digitised micro-factory engaged in the service encounter as a resource integrating actor at the micro level of our ecosystem. The micro-factory's structure, components and architecture, are positioned at a new 'sub-micro level'. This paper contributes to RDM theory, showing that technical advances can push redistribution of manufacturing to the individual level, where components of the micro-factory enable simultaneous production and use. Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 2 Managerial Relevance Statement The study is of relevance to managers implementing RDM in healthcare. The shift to RDM is regarded as a key strategy in meeting the rising costs of caring for an aging population and in meeting demand for specialist personalised therapies. The findings demonstrate that whilst the move to RDM may act as an enabler for scalable solutions, the digitised device does not replace the service delivery by people. Instead, established relationships are changed, and new roles and relationships are formed. The inclusion of the patient and the patient's family as actors in the ecosystem highlights how the costs and responsibility for personal care (physical, social and emotional) are not removed from the system, but shifted to other actors. This finding is important as for a new digital device to be successfully adopted into a healthcare ecosystem, time and space is required for new trusting relationships to be developed.
Managerial Relevance Statement —The study is of relevance to managers implementing RDM in healthcare. The shift to RDM is regarded as a key strategy in meeting the rising costs of caring for an aging population and in meeting demand for specialist personalised therapies. The findings demonstrate that whilst the move to RDM may act as an enabler for scalable solutions, the digitised device does not replace the service delivery by people. Instead, established relationships are changed, and new roles and relationships are formed. The inclusion of the patient and the patient’s family as actors in the ecosystem highlights how the costs and responsibility for personal care (physical, social and emotional) are not removed from the system, but shifted to other actors. This finding is important as for a new digital device to be successfully adopted into a healthcare ecosystem, time and space is required for new trusting relationships to be developed.