CHAPTER

Overview of Micro-Manufacturing
Yi Qin

INTRODUCTION
Manufacturing, as a general term referring to industry, is to make products that have been designed for certain applications. The meaning of manufacture has, however, changed, especially during the last 20 years, in terms of what is being made, how it is made, how manufacturing is organized, etc. Manufacturing has been influenced not only by the increased demands on producing routine products and creating new products but also by social, economic and even political changes. The desire for a better quality of life, good health and high working efficiency has been one of major drives in the innovation of many products, such as new models of computers, cars, mobile phones, CD players, MP3 players, wide flat-screen displays, medical instruments/ implants, etc. Dramatic changes in global, economic development during the last 15 years have significantly influenced how manufacturing is organized and implemented, e.g. new concepts concerning supply chains, new patterns for collaborations, etc., to such an extent that in a lot of cases, how to organize manufacturing becomes even more important than how the products are to be manufactured. How to achieve a balance between quality and cost is another major issue, since many industries are fighting for survival. Nevertheless, some general issues still apply to all sectors concerned, e.g. issues on how to quickly deploy new technologies and management

methods to improve manufacturing capability, efficiency and quality, no matter whether they belong to traditional, developed countries/regions or developing countries/regions. For the developed countries to compete with low-cost production, the manufacturing industry will need more innovations and changes of the focus. Reducing the cost by significantly improving efficiency and supply chains, maintaining technological advantages by continuously developing leading technologies/ capabilities, and delivering higher quality and innovative products are being pursued. For the developing countries, low-cost manufacturing may only be a short-term solution and not the ultimate goal, as this will have limited impact/ effect in the long term. From these considerations, as a contribution to competitive manufacturing, this book provides a useful reference for the manufacture of emerging miniature/micro-products, especially for improving mass-manufacturing capabilities and their applications for the manufacture of these products. There are ever increasing demands on miniaturized/micro products/systems and components, e.g. MEMS (micro-electric-mechanical systems) and micro-systems, micro-reactors, fuel cells, micro-mechanical devices, micro-medical components, etc., which are now popularly used in vehicles, aircraft, telecommunication and IT facilities, home appliances, medical devices and implants. Manufacture of these products has received great
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