Design and Operation of Production Networks for Mass Personalization in the Era of Cloud Technology draws on research and the latest industry advances to provide everything needed for effective implementation of this powerful tool. Shorter product lifecycles have increased pressure on manufacturers through the increasing variety and complexity of production, challenging their workforce to remain competitive and profitable. This has lead to innovation in production network methodologies, which together with opportunities provided by new digital technologies has fed a rapid evolution of production engineering, opening new solutions to the challenges of mass personalization and market uncertainty.

In addition to the latest developments in cloud technology, reference is made to key enabling technologies including artificial intelligence, the digital twin, big data analytics, and the internet of things where appropriate to help integrate the cloud approach with a fully digitalized production system. By providing practical knowledge as well as important background theory, this book helps to avoid pitfalls such as malfunctions in real-time data exchange between the digital twin and the physical production system.

Against a backdrop of significant digital transformation in manufacturing and production, this timely book provides a valuable framework for using these new technologies to provide increased efficiency and capability via mass-personalization.