I don't fly often enough on one particular airline to gather up a reasonable amount of frequent flyer miles for a free ticket or a first-class upgrade. So Northwest Airlines offers me subscriptions to magazines in exchange for my miniscule frequent flyer miles.
I happily checked off the boxes for about 10 different magazines a few months ago, and now I'm inundated with things to read on subjects that are quite different than heavy-duty pickup trucks. I've always thought it's a good idea to pay attention to how publications outside my own industry look, read, and operate in order to find fresh ideas for my own magazine. But I find myself learning about things I just wouldn't have been exposed to if not for taking a look at these other magazines. I now subscribe to BusinessWeek, Travel+Leisure, Cigar Aficionado, Wine Spectator, Model Airplane News, Tennis, and many more.
I was reading an article in the October '09 issue of Inc. magazine, and the cover blurb stated: "Move Over China! The future of manufacturing is alive in a five-person shop in Wellington, New Zealand. Think cheap, quick, green, and global. And everything's made to order."
First of all, I'm amazed at how freaking long that cover blurb is. I'd never get away with that here, nor would I want to. Second...it's about manufacturing. Seems like maybe there's something to learn there. The article is about David ten Have (yes, the "t" is lowercase) and his company Ponoko.
In an age when most companies seem to want to develop an app or provide solutions, here is a company that wants to actually make stuff. The products are made on a sophisticated laser cutter using wood or plastic as the base materials. Designs are worked out on a computer program and then sent to the laser cutter. Simple enough. This isn't completely groundbreaking news. I've seen rapid prototype equipment in use for many years at companies such as Mag-Hytec and S&B Filters. It amazes me to watch a 3D CAD program sent to a machine that spits out a real product.
What makes this a 21st century idea is that the end product is not a prototype or simple proof-of-design product that can't actually be used-these are real things like lamps, toys, costume jewelry, tables, and such. And what makes it even more exciting is that the customer can go online to Ponoko and either pick a design from someone else, or upload their own design and have it made. Ponoko is setting up dealers who have the laser cutters so, eventually, you can order the part you want and go pick it up. If you really want to think about the future, then contemplate the fact that maybe in a few years you will be able to afford your own laser cutter in your own home (20 years ago no one thought we'd all have computers, cell phones, fax machines, and scanners in our houses). Now you can make the parts on your computer and have the finished product minutes later. No shipping, no inventory costs, no warehouses...hmmm...
Now, if you're still with me here...imagine that you want a new air intake for your truck. You can design it yourself, or simply go to the website of a specialist and purchase a 3D CAD design. Maybe you can make a few modifications to personalize it, but the bulk of the design work would be done for you. And minutes later you are bolting the intake onto your truck. Crazy? Maybe. But it looks to me like Ponoko is a trailblazer and it's redefining how we think of a manufacturing facility.
I can see how the future might look. And all because I don't fly enough to get a free airline ticket.