Automated manufacturing: It’s a term that conjures gigantic factories churning out thousands of identical products, often owned by multinational conglomerates for whom agility is a major (and expensive) undertaking.
But what about small businesses? They can pivot quickly in response to markets, but how can they access the economic efficiency that automation offers? Enter distributed manufacturing, in which the materials and fabrication are decentralized, making the processes more accessible, customizable, and affordable.
Two engineers are forging this new path in manufacturing, creating a business case for putting automation in the hands of smaller organizations and educating users about the possibilities. Betsy and Mike Jasper met at Georgia Tech, where they both studied mechanical engineering, but their subsequent expertise couldn’t be more different, with each branching into areas as disparate as aerospace, energy, power hydraulics, helicopter gearboxes, and more. Their skills complement each other and make them ideal candidates to help small businesses adopt automated manufacturing.
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