The Importance of Fab Labs in the Development of New Products toward Mass Customization

Sérgio Carqueijó, Delfina Ramos, Joaquim Gonçalves, Sandro Carvalho, Federica Murmura, Laura Bravi, Manuel Doiro, Gilberto Santos and Kristína Zgodavová
Additional contact information
Sérgio Carqueijó: School of Technology, Polytechnic Institute Cavado Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
Delfina Ramos: School of Engineering of Porto (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Joaquim Gonçalves: School of Technology, Polytechnic Institute Cavado Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
Sandro Carvalho: School of Technology, Polytechnic Institute Cavado Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
Federica Murmura: Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Laura Bravi: Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Manuel Doiro: Organizacion de Empresas e Márketing, Escola Ingeniería Industrial, Vigo University, 36208 Vigo, Spain
Gilberto Santos: Design School, Polytechnic Institute Cavado Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
Kristína Zgodavová: Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling, Institute of Materials and Quality Engineering, Technical University of Košice, 04200 Košice, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: The idea of developing Fab Labs (Fabrication Laboratories) was originated by Neil Gershenfeld of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Bits and Atoms in 2006, where it signaled the start of a new era that is changing the world economy by breaking down the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds. The Portuguese Fab Labs are analyzed and a subsequent comparison with others European countries and in the USA was made. This comparison is based on aspects of the profile, the knowledge, the services, and the users. The survey was made by questionnaire, where the Portuguese version of it was adapted from another one disseminated at European level and in the USA, created in connection with a doctoral thesis in Italy. There are 25 active Fab Labs in Portugal, of which 16 responses were obtained and considered valid, so they represent the sample of our study. The results show that the Portuguese Fab Labs are in an embryonic phase with few associated or registered users. Portuguese Fab Labs have areas of work and investment capacity in machinery and technology similar to those of other European countries. However, in terms of turnover, there is a big difference between Portugal and some of the European countries, with American Fab Labs having completely different realities from the European ones. This work is relevant because it compares the Fab Labs of developed countries with those of Portugal. To overcome the difference in good practices existing in other countries, the Portuguese Fab Labs need: (1) better publicity, as well as more support for volunteer workers at Fab Labs, so that more ideas will appear and therefore more products; (2) the facilitation of the use of Fab Labs to have more volunteer workers, who must receive experimental courses, in order to make the best use of the available equipment; (3) evolution, from the current subtractive manufacturing to the additive manufacturing looking for innovation; (4) improved quality, ergonomics, and safety in the design of their own products; (5) and on the part of those responsible, therecognition, dissemination, and celebration of the best ideas that have turned into good products, in order to spread good practices.

Keywords: Fab Labs; product development; Mass Customization; Portugal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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