Urban Manufacturing: When Manufacturing in the City Adds Value

This case on urban manufacturing contains five ‘caselets’, nested as exhibits, that highlights the positive impact of urban manufacturing and analyses the value it creates for various stakeholders (i.e., customers, employees, ecosystem partners, and urban communities). The prognosis is that a growing urban population will seek a more comprehensive work-life balance, and hence, a tighter integration of different elements of human activities around urban manufacturing would be desirable. Featuring Old Trafford, Barcelona, Kalundborg, Tianjin, and Pittsburgh, these caselets also highlight the significance of zoning in this context, and why zoning laws were introduced to separate residential and industrial activities.

The evolution of the economy in most countries has given rise to a two-tier system of manufacturing with distinctions drawn between ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ industrial activities. The five caselets exemplify how the pendulum is swinging back to urban manufacturing, as it is becoming more feasible mainly for light manufacturing activity. The caselets also highlight the factors to be considered by manufacturers when deciding to locate in an urban setting. In summation, the key discussion points are: Is urban manufacturing all set to see a resurgence? If so why? What value does it bring for manufacturers, consumers, suppliers, partners, and the community at large?

Students will learn to 1) understand the stakeholder value model in the context of urban manufacturing; 2) identify value sets for various stakeholders—in this case, manufacturers, customers, employees, ecosystem partners, and society respectively—from potential urban manufacturing, and the implied value for urban manufacturers; 3) Adopt a holistic framework to help manufacturers decide on the feasibility of urban manufacturing.

Inspection copies and teaching notes are available for university faculty. To receive an inspection copy and teaching note, please email cmpshop [at] smu.edu.sg with your registered faculty email ID and a link to your contact information on the faculty directory at your university as verification. An inspection copy and teaching note will then be sent to your faculty email account.

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SMU Faculty/Staff can download the case & teaching note on iNet with your SMU login ID & Password via the following links:

· The Case (SMU-22-0003)

· Teaching Note (SMU-22-0003)