Enabling SME to share production capacity across industry sectors using digital platforms

A volatile, non-transparent market environment leads to load fluctuations in production capacity in the manufacturing sector, which are reflected in the over- or under-utilisation of machinery. According to studies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expect increasing volatility, which is accompanied by an increase in the frequency of market and economic cycles. Due to their size, SMEs can hardly cope with these fluctuations.

The KapShare research projects aim is to compensate the capacity fluctuations in the manufacturing sector. To this end, SMEs should be enabled to exchange production capacities across industry sectors ("capacity sharing"). This will be done by using a digital platform that will enable companies to offer machine hours on the market (in case of under-utilisation of machines) and to purchase them when needed (in case of over-utilisation of machines or lack of specialisation of own machines).