Understand open source-manufacturing in 30 minutes

As part of the REMODEL programme, we have curated a collection of articles and video which help you understand open source and some of the ways it can be applied within a manufacturing context.

In collaboration with a range of national and international partners, Danish Design Centre has launched the REMODEL programme,  which explores the potential of using open source principles in business models for manufacturing. The term ‘open source’ originates from the software industry, but has since had an impact on many other industries, and is part of the huge digitization wave we are in the middle of as a result of new, disruptive technology.

For a business to be able to discuss strategic perspectives of new  technology it is important to be able to stay fully informed in new developments of the digital landscape. Nevertheless it can be hard to find the required time to keep oneself up to date, especially as a director or decision maker of a busy company. This is why we, as a part of REMODEL, have created this reading/viewing package which can be consumed in half an hour and will allow you to understand open source, along with the potentials the concept has for your business.

We start off with a short video from Danish company Socialsquare, which explains the meaning of open source and how it works in practice in five minutes using LEGO bricks: “What is open source explained in LEGO”

Let’s now have a look at how these ideas can be applied in a business context. In the article  ‘Why content sharing might just be good for business’, American lawyer Sarah Hinchliff Pearson explains how the internet opens up for possibilities for creating completely new connections to clients and potential co-creators, and how new perspectives on copyright allows for new ways of doing business. The article is primarily concerned with digital content, but a lot of the points are valid when it comes to physical products as well.

The next resource is an article by Canadian Paul Stacy, one of Sarah’s colleagues, and with whom she is currently working on a book on the subject. In the article ‘What is an open business model and how can you generate revenue’, he deals with an essential aspect of applying the open source concept in business: It requires a business model which ensures that openness is an integral part of your business and that it is clear how the interaction will be beneficial to both your clients (co-creators) and your company.

This innovative approach is furthermore discussed by British Charles Leadbeater in his TED-talk ‘The era of open innovation’:

Leadbeater points out how innovation rarely occurs within companies behind closed doors, but rather in society in general through collaboration and co-creation. This is called open innovation and is often a precursor to open source-driven business models. Not just for software and virtual products, but increasingly for physical products too. This development is in large part driven by new digital manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), robotics and artificial intelligence.

This development puts the open source concept into a business context and points towards the technology-driven manufacturing of the future. With the concept of the ‘Zero Marginal Cost Society’ (and a great book by the same name), American author Jeremy Rifkin explains exactly what this development means for all companies, especially concerning manufacturing:

Currents within the field of open source business

We are starting to see some emerging patterns across the many open source-based business models appearing around the world. French researcher and author Louis David Benyayer has written about this and has identified these main categories by mapping out hundreds of business models:

• Platform: The company creates a platform that allows clients and contributors to interact and create open source products, and thereby create value for themselves. The company can select the best contributions and commercialise these. Example: Furniture company OpenDesk.
• Hybrid: The company creates an open source product, to which the public has free access. While the company doesn’t earn money directly, they create the opportunity to earn money from additional products and services. Example: Tech-giant Google.
• Dual: In the dual models, the company uses different licenses for different purposes. In other words, the licenses specify how their open products can be used in various contexts. This might mean that the customer is allowed to use the products for free for non-commercial purposes, but that commercial use costs money. Example: Cardgame producer Cards Against Humanity.
• Contributory: With this approach, a community of co-creators surrounds the product, and the company’s research and development is placed externally in such a way that the community is where updates or brand new products for the company are developed, while also allowing the company to use the ideas and content created. Example: The software system Linux.

Louis David Benyayer has written a very relevant book by the title Open Models, which contains multiple examples and case studies. Buy the book here.

Exciting international cases

When it comes to examples, Denmark does not have a lot of companies that has distinguished themselves by their use of open source business models for manufacturing – yet. But there are many interesting examples across the rest of the world worth taking note of:

• Open Desk (England): Read more about Open Desk’s model.
• Arduino (Italien): Read more about Arduino’s model.
• Tesla (USA): Read more about Tesla’s model.
• River Simple (UK): Read more about River Simple’s model.
• Local Motors (USA): Read more about Local Motors’ model.