A Virtual Manufacturing Network is a

manufacturing Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a ...

network which is not owned by a simple company, but it is built with the use of

ICT ICT may refer to: Sciences and technology * Information and communications technology * Image Constraint Token, in video processing * Immunochromatographic test, a rapid immunoassay used to detect diseases such as anthrax * In-circuit test, in ...

for bringing together different suppliers and alliance partners creating in such a way a virtual network which is able to operate as a solely owned supply network.Encyclopedia of Production and Manufacturing Management - Virtual Manufacturing Network
/ref> A Virtual Manufacturing Network is in this way a

Collaborative network A collaborative network is a network consisting of a variety of entities (e.g. organizations and people) that are largely autonomous, geographically distributed, and heterogeneous in terms of their operating environment, culture, social capital and ...

of manufacturing enterprises (from

OEM An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

s to Suppliers), which are connected by means of ICT for configuring, managing and monitoring the manufacturing process. Many companies have adopted a philosophy of acquiring worldwide resources through a virtual network for minimizing expenses in their whole operation, focusing on core competences and relying to other companies with specific expertise to take over the parts of the manufacturing process they cannot perform by themselves. The evolution of a Virtual Manufacturing Network is a Dynamic Manufacturing Network, which describes a more flexible and agile manufacturing network, that is able to be instantiated or dissolved quite rapidly, in order to meet emerging market needs and business opportunities.

Notes

{{Reflist Manufacturing Networks