Economies of scale, globalization and mass production have pushed the scale of manufacturing processes and the ability to compete beyond the scope of most small and medium enterprises. With the affordability of standard, off-the-shelf industrial and computer numerical control components, software and allied tools, we investigate a systematic model that looks at a number of possible ways of downscaling machines and operations that are of particular relevance to small and medium enterprises. The concepts presented here specifically deal with understanding dependencies and scale factors in complex systems, where the design is realized on the basis of commercial "off-the-shelf" components and subsystems commercial off-the-shelf). It is systematically integrated into proven design methodologies such as the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure V-models, axiomatic design and quality function deployment.