T H E N E X T E R A O F G L O B A L I Z AT I O N W I T H 3 D P R I N T I N G
Tyler Benster, 3D Printing Evangelist and Researcher
When it comes to manufacturing, there is no bigger story than the impact of globalization.
As the world flattens and interconnects more than ever before, the global market becomes
a winner-takes-all affair. The global economy rewards manufacturers that quickly
adopt best practices and crushes those who linger in the ways of the past. Three key
manufacturing trends build upon globalization—infrastructure productivity, responsive
supply chains and product life cycle efficiency—and dictate success for manufacturers in
the 21st century. Companies that adopt 3D printing in their manufacturing and
embrace these trends will have an advantage over the competition.
THE 3D PRINTING SOLUTIONS COMPANY ™
Manufacturing the Future T H E N E X T E R A O F G L O B A L I Z AT I O N W I T H 3 D P R I N T I N G
According to the Harvard Business Review, higher
infrastructure productivity is essential for tackling
the world’s infrastructure problems. For example,
streamlining the delivery process of production
tools, parts and prototypes via improved transport
infrastructure could save up to $400 billion a
year. 3D printing brings improvement to transport
productivity at minimal cost by providing a rapid
digital link between remote design and local Pre-surgery planning and rehearsal using 3D printed models has reduced the time for complex surgeries and improved success rates.
manufacturing. Logistical and infrastructure
shortcomings can be overcome via in-house
production in regional or local R&D facilities. Toru Kawakami, general manager for the
company’s CAD/CAM division, explained, “We
can receive STL data from anywhere in the world
IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS and then create models using our Eden260V™
ASO International, a leading Japanese orthodontic 3D Printer. Now we can work with an orthodontist
laboratory, has built such a ubiquitous digital located just a few miles away or one that is located
manufacturing business thanks to 3D printing. 5,000 miles away.”
In addition to reaching more customers, the
company reduced costs associated with logistics
and storage. “We have centralized the collection
of all models from orthodontists at our Tokyo
headquarters. Sending scanned 3D data instead
of physical models to customers produces
significant savings on transport costs, while
eliminating the risk of damaged models in transit,”
adds Mr. Kawakami.
A poured gypsum model (left) and 3D printed model (right).
MANUFACTURING THE FUTURE / 2
Manufacturing the Future T H E N E X T E R A O F G L O B A L I Z AT I O N W I T H 3 D P R I N T I N G
Companies like ASO International can potentially A few bleeding-edge companies have gone even
expand their business everywhere. As long as further to meet short lead-time demands by
there is an internet connection, a design file can turning to digital manufacturing techniques, thus
be transmitted and 3D printed in a consistent enabling flexible manufacturing lines that can
fashion, thus increasing efficiency by streamlining easily change production from one product to the
the production process. Businesses can ultimately next with no retooling or rearrangement required.
do most of their development work in-house, This addresses the need for customization or any
thereby minimizing the need to outsource while high-mix, low-volume production.
maintaining high quality standards.
RE-ENGINEERING RESOURCES This digital thread also enables manufacturers to
swiftly react to time-sensitive orders from buyers.
Buyers increasingly demand responsive supply
chains with short lead times for new orders or
design changes.
Companies like Unilever have seen substantial
A 3D printed injection mold for a domestic-brand toilet rim block. reductions in lead times by adopting 3D printing.
Stefano Cademartiri, R&D, CAP and prototyping
specialist at Unilever, explains, “Having previously
outsourced our thermoforming requirements for Collin Wilkerson, Managing Director of Western
handmade wooden molds, we found that we were Tool & Mold, looked into 3D printing to ensure
accumulating significant labor costs and having to an aerospace customer could manufacture its
contend with lengthy lead times. However, since parts on time. “We can provide fast reactions
3D printing the injection molds ourselves, we have to immediate needs,” he noted. “In traditional
reduced lead times in the conceptual phase by manufacturing, you have to deal with quick spikes
approximately 35 percent.” in the need for resources, but [with 3D Printing]
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Manufacturing the Future T H E N E X T E R A O F G L O B A L I Z AT I O N W I T H 3 D P R I N T I N G
The company specializes in customizing
accessories to local market preferences. “3D
printers allow us to synchronize the development
schedule with that of the vehicle itself and create
the accessory parts simultaneously, improving
both the quality and speed of the prototype
process,” commented Hiroshi Takemori, senior
3D printed components help streamline Western Tool & Mold’s manufacturing process. researcher from the product planning department.
our clients can re-engineer resources to their
greater benefit, resulting in a leaner manufacturing
process, which includes a smaller workforce and
less idle time.”
EFFICIENT CUSTOMIZATION The automotive and aerospace industries demand
high degrees of responsiveness and availability.
A 3D printed fog light garnish. With competition growing even fiercer in the
global economy, greater efficiency is required
through the entire life cycle of the product. Such
efficiency can be improved both in initial as well
as subsequent manufacturing runs to support
products through end-of-life.
Honda Access, a subsidiary of the Honda
Group headquartered in Tokyo, manufactures
accessories for cars and motorcycles worldwide.
The final production part.
MANUFACTURING THE FUTURE / 4
Streamlining Future Demand The benefits of adopting 3D printing for end-of-
life goods may be even more substantial than
the cost-savings from prototyping. Omer Krieger,
General Manager of Stratasys Asia Pacific and
Japan, commented that “Spare parts supply from
the product life cycle is a growing space for us,
because companies start to think about, ‘Now,
An automotive wheel concept model printed by an Objet Eden500V. how do I deliver this part 15 years from now?’”
With traditional manufacturing, a company must
Companies that adopt 3D printing in their anticipate future demand a decade or more in manufacturing will have an advantage over the advance. Then, the spare parts must be stored competition for embracing these trends. and distributed as demanded. Should inventory
run out, a new run must be made at great expense
with poor lead times. Omer explained that rather
than putting the part on a shelf and waiting, with
3D printing “I can put files in my memory disk,
print and deliver it in 15 years.”
These three trends represent tremendous
opportunity for the bold manufacturer. Enhancing
infrastructure productivity by replacing physical
delivery of goods with digital transmission
will enable a company to generate growth in
markets previously inaccessible. Optimizing for
responsiveness in manufacturing operations
empowers a business to profitably produce short
runs on tight time schedules. Increased flexibility
Federico M Mazzolani_ COST Action C26 Conference_ European Cooperation in Science and Technology-Urban habitat constructions under catastrophic events _ COST Action C26 Final Conference _ Naples, Ital.pdf
Federico M Mazzolani_ COST Action C26 Conference_ European Cooperation in Science and Technology-Urban habitat constructions under catastrophic events _ COST Action C26 Final Conference _ Naples, Ital.pdf
