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Distributed working in Manufacturing: Enabling smart, scalable, and resilient operations
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Manufacturing is evolving beyond factories and toward industry 4.0. Traditionally concentrated on-site, manufacturers are now embracing distributed teams, an operational shift where functions like design, procurement, engineering support, quality control, compliance, HR, and customer service are decentralized across geographies.
These teams are rapidly transforming how manufacturers innovate, control costs, and build resilient supply chains. From design and engineering to production and IT, global teams are becoming the norm, with India emerging as a strategic talent hub for software-driven manufacturing, automation, and data-driven operations.
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- 72% of global manufacturers plan to adopt hybrid or distributed work models by 2026 (Source: Deloitte Manufacturing Industry Outlook)
- 35–50% of roles in manufacturing (especially in planning, R&D, customer support, and procurement) are location-flexible with the right digital setup (Source: McKinsey Global Institute)
- 3X faster product development timelines reported by companies using distributed engineering and design teams across time zones (Source: BCG on global innovation chains)
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Insights: why distributed working works in manufacturing
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- Specialization without borders: Distributed work enables access to engineering experts in Bangalore, compliance officers in Poland, or procurement specialists in Vietnam, all seamlessly coordinated digitally
- Operational resilience: Redundant functions spread across multiple locations reduce the risk of localized disruptions (e.g., pandemics, floods, geopolitical tensions)
- Cost optimization: Distributed teams, especially in emerging markets, facilitate talent cost arbitrage without compromising quality
- Always-on productivity: With staggered time zones, distributed teams enable near-continuous operations - design in the UK, prototyping in India, support in APAC
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Area
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Use Case
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Benefits
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Product engineering
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CAD/CAM, digital twin modelling by offshore teams
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Faster design cycles, reduced R&D costs
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IT & OT integration
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Remote development of MES, ERP, SCADA
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Unified manufacturing visibility
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Cloud & Edge infrastructure
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Distributed factory monitoring systems
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Real-time analytics, predictive maintenance
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Global supply chain management
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24/7 operations support from India
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Improved agility, demand-supply alignment
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Aftermarket services
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Remote diagnostics, customer support
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Reduced downtime, better service quality
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Why India is the place to build your distributed manufacturing team
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- GE: Leverages India-based teams for industrial IoT platforms and edge computing
- Schneider Electric: Global MES and automation systems built with R&D in India
- Siemens: Distributed engineering teams collaborate across India, Germany, and the U.S. on factory digitalization
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Distributed working is a critical enabler of the modern manufacturing ecosystem. With robust collaboration models and clear risk mitigation, manufacturers can tap into India's
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- Deep engineering talent: India produces over 1.5 million engineers annually, many with experience in global manufacturing standards
- Tech infrastructure: Cities like Pune, Chennai, and Bangalore have robust internet, IT parks, and support ecosystems for remote operations
- Time zone advantage: Allows companies in Europe, the UK, and North America to extend operations virtually across a 24-hour cycle
- English fluency & global outlook: Indian professionals are trained for cross-cultural collaboration, technical documentation, and global compliance standards
- Cost-effective talent: Compared to in-house staff in high-cost economies, India offers up to 60% lower cost for the same level of expertise
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We at P.R.GLOlinks, specialize in helping manufacturers build distributed teams that scale operations, without red tape, fines, or surprises.
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- We manage all local employment, compliance, and payroll via our Employer of Record (EOR) service
- We help identify the right roles to decentralize without disrupting the factory floor
- We understand both the industrial mindset and the digital transformation journey
- We become your extended compliance and people partner
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Whether you're planning to extend your quality assurance team, set up a documentation unit, or decentralize R&D, we help you to de-risk, deploy, and scale. Let us be the bridge between your factory floor and the future of work.
Connect to our distributed hiring advisor today
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