3D printing has been touted as the future of manufacturing by many industry experts around the world. This new way of creating products in manufacturing plants has disrupted the industry forcing companies both big and small to rethink their manufacturing processes to take advantage of it.
Recognition from Regulators
3D printing has grown from the once obscure hobbyist technology used to print mundane objects to full-fledged technology used in by giant conglomerates such as HP and Philip in their manufacturing plants. Regulators and standards bodies such as the ISO and the SEC have chimed in to define and make sure this technology is compliant with current manufacturing standards.
Increased Factory Coverage
3D printing is gaining wider acceptance and becoming more widely adopted in factories making real products. Indeed, we’ve seen companies such as Adidas using 3D printers for manufacturing of some of their sneakers. Adidas has a full smart factory run entirely this technology in Germany open in collaboration with Oechsler, a local company. This will significantly reduce production times by almost five months, according to the Economist.
There are other examples of big manufacturers using 3D printing to optimize their manufacturing processes. Here are a few examples of such companies:
Boeing: The giant aircraft manufacturer is one of the big players deploying 3D printing technology in their factories. They use 3D printers to make all kinds of parts for military and civilian aircraft. For instance, the 787 Dreamliner has several parts made with this technology that have been approved by the FAA, according to Aerospace America.
Ford: This might come as a surprise, but this huge American car manufacturer has been using 3D printing technology for decades. In fact, Ford recently reached a milestone by making the 500,000th car part using this technology in their factory.
Hasbro: The large toy manufacturer has recently looked into incorporating this technology in factories.
Impacts on the Future
Faster and Better Prototyping
With 3D printing, manufacturers will be able to create prototypes faster and more efficiently. These printers are great at knocking out several prototypes faster than traditional methods. Companies create as many prototypes as possible before deciding on the best product to put into production.
Customization and Design Flexibility
3D printers are the perfect tool for designers of custom products due to their flexibility. Manufacturers will find it easier to design and redesign custom-made items for their clients as opposed to present technologies that are hard and expensive to modify for a specific purpose.
Accommodating Low Volume Production
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of 3D printing in manufacturing is the issue of low volume production. Manufacturers will be able to handle low volume production using 3D printers by re-configuring them to make different types of products depending on current needs and demands.
