Recent Streams of Digital Manufacturing, Its Emerging Trend and Future Directions for SME in Japan

摘要

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in Japan has been suffered from the global competition that comes up from manufacturing commoditization as well as from the dissolution of existing affiliation system known as "vertical integration" and "Keiretsu". Of all the industries in Japan 99.7% are SME that has played a great roll in high growth economy and this high ratio provides a useful clue to approach the issue. Statistics shows that Serbia has similar high percentage of SME as well. This study attempts to make positive effects on the said issue by providing new perspectives for SME to obtain driving force to create a survival path with utilizing recent digital technologies. The approach to the issue also covers the point of view to set the product and process strategy for changing market realities including Robotics industries.