Autor: Gerd Wagenhaus

Especially manufacturing companies with small-scale structures are increasingly faced with the task to adapt their manufacturing systems on rapidly changing production programs in terms of functional and economic criteria. What is given in large-scale companies as continuous rules by installed comprehensive production systems (CPS), such an improvement is organized highly case-spezific in small-scale companies by the owner. The Ing.-Holzbau Schnoor GmbH &Co KG reacts on described changes by means of an intelligent use of industrial engineering methods: The miniCPS @ Schnoor.

The growing role of China for manufacturing and as a source of low-price-products, Chinese companies have increasingly affected this strategic setup of manufacturing companies in Europe. Exploiting this China Price Factor leading companies have reorganised their value chains in order to include china made components. Chances and risks of the distributed manufacturing, considering Chinese partnerships, are discussed. The strategic position of Chinese companies as well as the general development in china and other emerging markets allows drawing a number of conclusions and making an attempt for an outlook of what is to be expected as possible consequences of Chinas important role.