One part is the integrated, distributed supply chain and leveraging capabilities of the supply chain into goods. In manufacturing, the fundamental mantra is better, cheaper, faster, Stieren offers. If companies can produce better, cheaper and faster than a competitor, it stimulates competition more than was possible 10 or 15 years ago. Primarily, information technology has enabled a collaborative distributed environment that enables firms to work on projects from dispersed locations without the expense of travel. It also allows companies to focus on core competencies while establishing relationships with other firms that specialize in areas that are not part of their core competencies.
Virtual manufacturing is another technology-supported effort.
With the power of software and computing, companies can prove out a concept in the virtual sense and cut bytes before cutting chips. They don't have the typical trial and error testing that they had five or 10 years ago. While not at the forefront of technology discussions, Stieren contends that these two items are critical. Measurements and standards is to information technology and the economy what breathing is to the human body. NIST is working to address the need for relevant standards for this new approach to manufacturing.