ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces manufacturing network enterprises (MNE) along with their characteristic elements. It focuses on cloud-based MNE to highlight various aspects of cloud manufacturing (CMfg) like characteristics, architecture, and technologies. The chapter describes the elements of a manufacturing network enterprise that are over and above the usual properties that are essential for any member of a manufacturing network. MNEs attempt to draw the flexibility of the large-scale global network and the self-organization of the multimember community into a highly customized self-adapting network structure that molds itself to the resources and constraints of the local business environment. The ultimate option is to outsource the whole operation, keeping in-house only those non-logistics functions that are deemed to be the core business of the company. The chapter also describes the various outsourcing operations and services that are offered by third-party logistics (3PL) service providers.
