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Peer production flips the idea of the factory by using resources spread across the community
instead of in a centralized location. Factories are the inevitable result of using expensive
machines that require costly organizational process to use effectively. This is why the
original Ford plant took in raw materials in one end and spit out cars in the other.
It was just too expensive to do it any other way.
Eventually increased labor costs and cheap machines led to outsourcing, but the whole
process was still controlled by an organization. Now though, machine tools such as milling
machines, laser cutters and 3D printers have become affordable to the general public. This
has turned garages into machine shops. Community workshops are the second trend enabling
Peer Production by sharing the use of costly machine equipment with a large group of people.
TechShops are a chain of community machine shops that contain millions of dollars of
equipment and operate like a gym. Members buy a monthly pass, get trained on equipment
and have shared access to everything the shop has to offer.
All this talk of community makes Peer Production sound like a socialist idea designed to throw
off the shackles of capitalism. So not true. Peer Production has been used to create successful
companies such as Dodo Case and has given hope to the idea that the US can still compete
as a manufacturing center. The case was born out the desire to create a high quality case
for tablets and ebook readers. Founders Craig Dalton and Patrick Buckley used equipment
and knowledge from TechShop to turn their idea into a multimillion dollar business.
Even if you have no urge to start a business, peer production can still help you save money
by fixing old equipment rather than buying new stuff. Years ago, consumer goods were
designed to be fixed. If something broke, you didn’t need to replace it...you just
fixed it. But companies stopped designing products to be easily fixed. This often made
the products cheaper and less durable and ensured they would always have customers.
But sites like ifixit are making it possible for people everywhere to fix their own stuff.
The site offers free repair manuals and even sells replacement parts.
While it’s too early to see just how Peer Production will change manufacturing on a
global scale, its impact can already be felt.