The platform economy has disrupted many industries, but not manufacturing. However, next-generation production platforms are now emerging as the new delivery model for breakthrough innovations in manufacturing. A production platform is one in which multiple tiers of suppliers and many tiers of buyers, technology developers, value-chain providers and providers of complementary services are brought together using a common interface (e.g. digital web-based platforms, collaborative networks, co-located physical locations) to exchange ideas, knowledge, purchases, plans, and expertise.
This white paper serves as a concept note to describe and anticipate what are the fundamental constituents and operating mechanisms of the next generation production platforms, the characteristics of the future firms, implications for future value chains and networks and how to possibly overcome organizational hurdles.