diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 606a6d7..dfe099a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,18 +1,32 @@
 ROOT_DIR:=$(shell dirname $(realpath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
 
-IMAGE_NAME=opencord/mavenrepo
-PACKAGE_TAG=candidate
+IMAGE_NAME        ?= opencord/mavenrepo
+DOCKER_REGISTRY   ?= docker-registry:5000
+DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG ?= candidate
+
+MAKE_CONFIG       ?= config.mk
+ifeq ($(realpath $(MAKE_CONFIG)),)
+$(info Makefile configuration not found, defaults will be used.)
+else
+$(info Using makefile configuration "$(MAKE_CONFIG)")
+endif
 
 .PHONY: all
-all: images
+all: build
 
-.PHONY: images
-images:
-	docker build -f Dockerfile.make -t $(IMAGE_NAME):$(PACKAGE_TAG) $(ROOT_DIR)
+.PHONY: build
+build:
+	docker build -f Dockerfile.make -t $(IMAGE_NAME):$(DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG) $(ROOT_DIR)
+
+.PHONY: publish
+publish:
+	docker tag $(IMAGE_NAME):$(DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)/$(IMAGE_NAME):$(DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG)
+	docker push $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)/$(IMAGE_NAME):$(DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG)
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
-	docker rmi opencord/mavenrepo:$(PACKAGE_TAG) | true
+	docker rmi $(IMAGE_NAME):$(DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG) | true
+	docker rmi $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)/$(IMAGE_NAME):$(DEPLOY_DOCKER_TAG) | true
 
 .PHONY: test
 test:
@@ -21,7 +35,7 @@
 .PHONY: help
 help:
 	@echo "Available targets:"
-	@echo "  images: build the Docker image (Maven repo with the CORD ONOS apps)"
+	@echo "  build:  build the Docker image (Maven repo with the CORD ONOS apps)"
 	@echo "  clean:  remove the Docker image"
 	@echo "  test:   run unit tests"
 	@echo "  help:   print this help message"