Many mass customization businesses are started with a “Wouldn’t it be cool if ?” statement. Dozens of entrepreneurs saw advances in web based software and imagined a future where you could design custom dress shirts or sneakers online. So far, there hasn’t been a breakaway hit ala Google of Facebook that has led to a massive financial gain.
A smaller group of companies looked at things another way. They asked “What are big, lucrative markets that operate inefficiently because of manufacturing constraints?”. They then proceeded to use custom manufacturing technology to address these massive, “hair on fire” problems, and are starting to build successful companies on those insights.
Amfit produces a suite of CAD/CAM technologies that allow podiatrists to produce orthopedic inserts for their patients in a traditional office.
These machines can scan foot imprints made in foam or can capture data via a pin like “interface”…
This is converted into CAD data…
A foam “Blank” is inserted into a small mill…
Which drives a CNC mill that carves the custom foam insert…
The insert is then given a little finishing…
Covered in a top layer of foam…
And presented as a final product, equal to or better than anything Dr. Scholl’s could provide…
There isn’t a market less “sexy” than podiatry, but it is a large and rewarding opportunity for those willing to consider it.
Broken teeth are another market that doesn’t have the glamor of custom apparel. 3M’s Lava division has built a large business fixing that problem, while not fashionable, creates a great sense of urgency in its customers. Their system scans teeth, recreates broken teeth with a custom CAD packeage, and creates 3D printouts of the repaired teeth that can be turned into crowns and other dental repairs.
These businesses aren’t fun, but they have potential for scale and are the best bets for a massive success in mass customization in the near term.
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