What is AM's ability to quickly modify a generic part design to serve a specific customer or application called?

The concept being described in the question pertains to mass customization. This term refers to the capability of additive manufacturing (AM) to swiftly adapt and modify general part designs to meet the specific needs of individual customers or specialized applications.

Mass customization leverages the inherent flexibility of additive manufacturing technologies, allowing for designs to be tailored without the substantial lead times typically associated with traditional manufacturing methods. This means that companies can produce unique or customized items efficiently and cost-effectively, catering to market demands or personal preferences.

In contrast, rapid prototyping focuses primarily on quickly producing models to test and validate designs rather than on modifying existing designs for specific customer requirements. Flexible manufacturing refers to systems that can easily adapt to different product types, but it does not specifically emphasize the customization aspect for individual customers. Direct digital manufacturing involves producing parts directly from digital models but does not inherently include the customization ability that mass customization highlights.