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Topic: Business Value3 key metrics to optimize your AM profitability
The value-added benefits of additive manufacturing (AM) in comparison to traditional methods are already well known. Reduced costs and shortened lead times, coupled with greater design freedom and the ability to print more complex parts, are all factors driving the take-up of AM by businesses across sectors ranging from automotive to medical, aerospace to fashion, and maritime to food, to name just a few.
Read moreThe Oil & Gas Industry Accelerates Its Use of Additive Manufacturing
The recent partnership between two leaders in their respective industries further indicates how valuable additive manufacturing will be to the future of industrialization. DNV GL, one of the major voices within the oil and gas industry, invites 3YOURMIND to participate in the Digital Warehouse Joint-Innovation Project. Focused on standardizing spare part production and improving the energy value chain, this partnership will equip both sides with the resources and data to transform the oil & gas industry. Led by DNV GL, the Digital Warehouse Joint-Innovation Project includes industry leaders from around the world dedicated to standardizing a quality assurance process focused on 3D printing. 3YOURMIND joins a prestigious list of partners and will be called upon to implement their software and data collection expertise.
Read more5 keys to success in a Distributed Manufacturing model
Yesterday’s version of manufacturing is predominantly based on identifying cheap ways to produce parts overseas. A local manufacturer spends months and years developing a trustworthy relationship with a production partner on a different continent because their nation utilizes cheap labor to produce parts. In turn, these parts are shipped around the world, inevitably adding to the cost of doing business, and eventually arrive at their final destination. The Widget company depends on a singular or limited number of suppliers and becomes reliant on warehouses filled with spare parts in case of an emergency. Not to mention the logistical nightmares that come with the traditional manufacturing network are painful and costly. Simply put, the global supply chain is cumbersome and outdated.
Read moreExpert interview: Deutsche Bahn’s head of AM shares his post-Covid vision
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has caused a general downturn and the transportation industry has not been spared. DB, as an early adopter of additive manufacturing, has already showcased some AM success stories. We speak with DB’s head of AM, Florens Lichte, on how Deutsche Bahn got involved into the response efforts to the coronavirus crisis and how he sees the future of additive manufacturing in the post-covid era.
Read more3YOURMIND and TÜV SÜD collaborate to build a rapid Parts Qualification online tool
2020 is a hard year for everyone. The global crisis came unexpectedly and slowed down most of the companies development around the world. Priority has changed from product development to the producing of medical supplies to support the medical industry. During this time, 3D printing has proven its predominance over traditional manufacturing methods. We were able to supply small batches of newly designed products and iterate them when new developments were made. The biggest challenge was to qualify and certify all of those parts, so they could be used to support the fight against the virus.
Read moreBuilding smarter defense operational supply chains with Additive Manufacturing
By 2024, the worldwide market for 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace and Defense is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly 17.5%, exceeding $3.3 Billion USD. This growth is predominantly concentrated in the USA and Europe, however parts of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa are also increasing their adoption rates. The US Military has a proven preponderance of AM utilization for a variety of applications that include prototyping, R&D, MRO and production parts. Due to their strict guidelines for repeatability, security and time-sensitivity, it’s no surprise that this industry is further pushing AM into mass adoption to solve the problems of today, and tomorrow.
Read moreIs the factory of the future full of 3d printers?
As discussed in the article “Is Serial Additive Manufacturing Taking Off?”, the Additive Manufacturing world has seen significant growth in the past few years. Every year faster, more accurate technologies are being presented. AM knowledge is more accessible. New materials and post-processing methods are developed and implemented. To make it possible to use all of that in the production environment, we are also working very hard to introduce qualification processes to meet the highest requirements regarding part quality, production repeatability, and many other aspects.
Read more5 Lessons for AM, part 3/3: 5 Guidelines for Resilient Supply Chains
3D printing was able to support the covid response effort for critical, stop-gap production. But after less than one month, conventional manufacturing was already producing almost all of those parts, with the exception of parts that were generally better suited for AM. That illustrates that 3D printing has a critical, but limited role in the supply chain. Those guidelines can be taken to move 3D Printing from an innovation budget into a secure procurement plan as part of a resilient supply chain.
Read more5 Lessons for AM, part 2/3: Starting with Qualified Inventories
The way that the global community has responded to the covid situation has not only been a shock for the larger economy, it also presents an existential challenge to the 3D printing industry. For 3D printing to move out of the innovation department and into the procurement budget, it needs to be part of resilient supply chains. The good news is that the response effort to the medical supply shortages in covid offered some key guidelines to create this ongoing solution. Our first article spoke about how establishing smooth transitions between 3D printing and conventional manufacturing is key. In this article, we will explore the importance of working with qualified parts, how to use stakeholders in a center of excellence model to ensure that information is shared and steps to build fully resilient procurement processes.
Read more5 Lessons for AM, part 1/3: Can COVID-19 kill 3D Printing?
3D printing has shown high potential in reacting to the supply chain crisis. And yes, the distributed manufacturing concept carries hope for building more resilient supply chains. But the COVID-19 crisis fleshed out some crucial limitations of 3D printing as a response tool. The global economic downturn will severely impact innovation budgets where 3D printing is classified for most organizations. But there are also ways forward to show how to develop 3D printing as a daily procurement tool to create resilient supply chains. It’s time to thoroughly work on building digital AM qualified inventories.
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