Customized Shoe Manufacturing System Using Digital Foot Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mass production of wearable and medical products often results in unsatisfactory uniqueness, leading to medical issues like gait problems and increased inventory costs due to lack of individualized physical requirements, and existing customization technologies are not effectively centralized or automated for rapid production.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a scan unit for digital foot representation, a shoe manufacturing unit for automated production, and a customized product selection platform that uses a matching and configurator engine to produce shoes with customized sole properties based on user data, allowing for centralized, user-specific, and brand-independent customization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mass production is used to reduce costs and increase productivity, then productivity and cost efficiency are improved, but product uniqueness and customization are lost leading to medical issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidproduct customization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary scanning and digital modeling of the user's foot before production begins. The digital footprint is created in advance, allowing for customized shoe manufacturing based on precise individual measurements, thus resolving the contradiction between mass production speed and customization by preparing all necessary data beforehand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the production parameter from standardized mass production to customized production based on digital footprints. By using digital representations and automated manufacturing, the system maintains high productivity while adapting each product to individual user parameters, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If mass production is used to fulfill consumer needs, then productivity is improved, but inventory costs and waste increase due to overstocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidinventory waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables on-demand production where shoes are manufactured only when needed based on actual user orders. The automated manufacturing process allows the system to produce customized shoes to order rather than maintaining large inventories, thus eliminating overstocking waste while maintaining production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital footprints and product configurations in advance, allowing for rapid on-demand production. This preliminary digital preparation enables efficient customized manufacturing without requiring physical inventory storage, resolving the contradiction between productivity and inventory waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If standardized mass produced shoes are distributed, then productivity and distribution speed are improved, but medical conditions arise due to lack of individualized fit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution speedVSAvoidmedical conditions from poor fit
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary scanning and creates a digital footprint of the user's foot before production. This advance measurement and digital modeling ensures that each shoe is customized to the individual's exact foot dimensions, preventing medical conditions from poor fit while maintaining efficient production and distribution timelines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the production approach from standardized parameters to customized parameters based on individual digital footprints. By using automated manufacturing with precise digital measurements, the system produces medically appropriate customized shoes at mass production speeds, resolving the contradiction between distribution speed and health safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3261044B1System for customized manufacture of wearable or medical products
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 KLOCKNER DESMA SCHUHMASCHEN
  • EP3261044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3261044B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3261044B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for customized manufacture of a wearable and/or medical product, said system comprising a scan unit for storing and transferring a digital representation of a body or part thereof of one or more users, a manufacturing unit of one or more providers configured to manufacture said wearable and/or medical product in accordance with said digital representation and a customized product selection platform comprising a user database, a product database and a matching and/or configurator engine. In some embodiments the invention relates to corresponding systems and methods for customized selection and production of personalized items from multiple providers using centralized user profiles based on 3D digital representations of a user's body or parts thereof.