A new wave of manufacturing is emerging – driven by advances in computing, artificial intelligence, and the need for speed and scale simultaneously. As manufacturing requirements grow exponentially, we can no longer go from producing by percentage increases; instead, we must strive for increases in multiples. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains how Terafab is changing the complexion of computing and what it means for hyperscale manufacturing.
Elon Musk is doing a $25 billion joint venture with Tesla, xAI, and SpaceX to build a Terafab. This Terfab is expected to produce 1 terawatt of computing power output which is significant if you think about global output of 20 terawatts. Instead of designing, fabricating, packaging and testing in different locations around the world, thereby requiring complex coordination and transshipping around the globe, slowing down the process and minimizing the output, it flips this equation on its head. The concept for the Terafab is to vertically integrate all of these processes in one building to ensure high-volume and rapid scale. In this example, the idea is to utilize the computational power for robots, cars, and space.
Hyperscale manufacturing requires AI-enabled technologies. It takes innovation to an entirely new level. As these technologies evolve, manufacturers must focus on hyperscale readiness – preparing their operations, talent and technologies to operate at new levels of speed and scale.
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Hyperscale Manufacturing: Scaling Production at the Speed of Demand