Japan's revolution in manufacturing emerged from two moments of crisis that forced fundamental innovation.

The first came in 1950, when Toyota faced near-bankruptcy and intense labour disputes. Unable to maintain its workforce, the company laid off a quarter of its employees, that is, about 1,600 people. The resulting conflict with Toyota's strong

3D printing will be a growing part of local autonomous manufacturing. That will change the transportation industry, the global supply chain, and the entire geopolitical balance.