Advanced Manufacturing

Hélder Puga
Auxiliary Researcher at CMEMS-DEM, University of Minho 

One of the things that humans really excel at is solving problems. At least, that’s something we have a great potential for and can theoretically do better than a robot can. One way to solve/find solutions for our problems is by using the Advanced Manufacturing technologies to innovate products or processes. Advanced manufacturing industries increasingly integrate new innovative technologies in both products and processes.

The Advanced Manufacturing technology makes wide use of the computer (e.g., CAE and/or CAM), accuracy, and information technologies integrated with a high-performance workforce in a production system capable of providing a heterogeneous mix of products in small or large volumes with both the efficiency of mass production and the flexibility of custom manufacturing in order to respond quickly to customer demands. The knowledge, experience and common sense represent the "most" direct way between the raw material and the final product.

The Advanced Manufacturing workshop aimed to show the most popular and reliable advanced technology used and available on the market, namely those based on subtractive and additive processes. It is recognized that the access to knowledge and technology will lead to the strengthening of industry (advanced manufacturing) through gains, competence and competitiveness, reduction of environmental impact, rationalization, and reduction of non-renewable resources. Moreover, it was discussed the necessity to study and understand the phenomena of conventional technologies, as well as their limitations in order to make better use of the advanced and intelligent technologies, using for that the virtualization process 3D, 3D Print, the combination of additive and subtractive manufacturing, the combination of additive and foundry manufacturing, among others.